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Thomson sells 10 agencies to ex-sales chief
Former Thomson sales and marketing director Miles Morgan has acquired 10 travel agencies from his former company and is setting up as an independent.
Morgan, who left the TUI company as part of a management shake-up in June, has created Miles Morgan Travel and has joined John Hayes’ Independence Group to gain access to cutting edge dynamic packaging technology.
The 10 shops are in affluent market towns in the South Midlands, West Country and Welsh borders including Cheltenham, Malmesbury, Ross-on-Wye and Warwick.
All will be rebranded under the new name before Christmas in time for the new year peak booking period.
Morgan said he hoped to retain the majority of the staff, who have entered a 30 day consultation process.
He revealed that he wanted to recreate a retail travel business along the lines of the former West Country miniple Bakers Dolphin, where he once used to work.
“I would like to rekindle the love of travel that was so strong at Bakers Dolphin because people loved that company and you weren’t a number,” he said.
Morgan dismissed the threat of the internet on independent agencies, saying: “The internet will never provide memorable service. The high street is alive and kicking and will be very resilient.”
He forecast a strong future for “sharp independents who don’t stand still”.
Report by Phil Davies
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