TravelMole
Agent

Thomson company pledges to undercut agents

Wednesday, 27 July 20053 min read

Thomson-owned Portland Direct has issued its summer 2006 brochure – with a pledge to undercut high street travel agents.

The operator urges customers to “book from the comfort of your home by calling or clicking” and save 15% off high street prices in the process.

“Portland Holidays Direct offers the best holidays at low prices by cutting out the middlemen,” the operator said.

The overtly anti-agent tone is certain to irritate retailers who Thomson insist are still critical to its business.

A Thomson spokesman said: “This is nothing new with Portland. It’s the way it is.”

Report by Steve Jones