Kuoni latest to announce job cuts Hollie-Rae Brader


Kuoni’s UK boss has encouraged other travel firms to “snap up” any staff made redundant as a result of its strategic business review. The firm, which employs nearly


500 people in the UK and overseas, has started a consultation process with staff as it looks to “reshape” following the pandemic. Chief executive Derek Jones


wrote to staff to inform them some roles would be made redundant, and later urged other industry bosses to “snap them up”. “A difficult day for all of us but


sometimes you have to take a half step back to take two forward,” he tweeted. “The crisis is our opportunity to begin again. If we have to lose some


people, snap them up. You won’t regret it. They’re incredible.” Kuoni would not confirm the


number of proposed redundancies but said all areas of the business were under review. Jones praised staff for their


commitment over the past three months, a period he said had “tested the company to the limit”. He added “everything possible”


had been done to retain jobs but that Kuoni had “exhausted all options”. Meanwhile, consultations with


staff are under way at Virgin Atlantic and P&O Cruises parent Carnival UK, with 3,150 and 450 staff at risk respectively, and at Riviera Travel. Riviera said up to 95 jobs could be lost but confirmed that no on-the- road staff would be affected.


Agents weigh up consortia switches during pandemic


Juliet Dennis


Consortia have reported a hike in enquiries from agents keen to switch membership as a result of the coronavirus crisis. Advantage Travel Partnership is in


discussion with 40 businesses, most existing agencies in other consortia. The consortium has deferred


April subscriptions to the end of the year, run daily video updates and kept its managed services team in place to process refunds. Head of business developement


6 18 JUNE 2020


David Moon said: “We are getting more enquiries than normal. In these sorts of situations, many people take a step back to look at their business.” The Travel Network Group


said applications for May and June were level with last year but the mix was different. Stephanie Slark, director of membership services, said: “We’re getting more enquiries from existing travel businesses, rather than start-ups, than in 2019.” Protected Trust Services reported


a “huge surge in enquiries” from agents seeking a trust fund model,


with 89 leads in April, 81 in May and 58 in June. It took on 29 new members in May and June and has a further 10 due to join. Managing director Daniel Landen


said: “Consistent feedback from agents is they want security and control of their businesses.” The news came as Keeva Travel left


Global Travel Group to join TTNG’s Travel Trust Association. Operations director Beneditta Mcmanus said: “I’d be surprised if other agents are not reviewing their businesses or putting safeguards in place.”


Global Travel Group managing


director Andy Stark admitted the group had struggled to maintain service levels but said it “really valued” its member relationships. It has reduced monthly fees. He said: “Our biggest challenge


has been managing the volumes of refunds. We have increased resources where it is feasibly possible to do so, and upskilled members of the team to provide additional support.” Lee Hunt, owner of Global


member Deben Travel, said: “I’d like to see Global learn from this.”


travelweekly.co.uk Last week, Carnival UK said agents


were “vital” to its recovery plans in response to claims the trade sales team had been cut as part of the restructure. Numerous members of the cruise


Derek Jones


giant’s trade-facing team posted messages on social media to confirm their job losses. Carnival UK said it would confirm


the outcome when the consultation finishes at the end of June. One staff member under


consultation said the cuts would have a “massive impact” on agents. John Sullivan, head of commercial


at The Advantage Travel Partnership, said field sales teams provided an “invaluable service to agents”. He said he understood companies


faced challenges and had to “cut their cloth accordingly”, but said he hoped cuts wouldn’t be “at the sharp end”. He added: “Those on the road


will be key in reassuring agents and painting a picture of what travel will be like moving forward.”

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