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TIQT special report: Thomson’s new bonding policy is good move for rivals, say operators
Thomson’s decision to sell more unbonded holidays throws up a huge marketing opportunity for operators that still do, according to Sunvil Holidays managing director and AITO member Noel Josephides.
Following this week’s ground breaking Court of Appeal ruling, Thomson has decided to reduce the number of bonded holidays and flights it sells from around two thirds of its 5.5 million to around half in the next few years (see lead story).
Speaking at yesterday’s Travelmole Travel Industry Question Time – which asked ‘Is the traditional tour operator the dinosaur of the travel industry’ – Josephides said: “We would be stupid not to take advantage. This is a wonderful marketing opportunity and gives us the chance to show how we are still giving customers financial protection.”
Cadogan Holidays managing director Tom Allen said Thomson’s move was clearly to show that it was not a level playing field.
“It is taking a stance that it should be sorted out,” he said.
He said Cadogan would continue to bond. “We’ve just rebonded for the next 12 months anyway,” he explained. “But it’s not that big a cost, so we would look at continuing to bond. It provides added value and extra comfort for our customers.”
But Opodo head of tours Chris Roe believed many operators will reconsider their policy over bonding.
“All companies are going to be looking at this,” he said. “It raises the question of what the customer actually understands about protection.”
Stuart Jackson, managing director of Cosmos’ accommodation-only division Somewheretostay.com, said although Thomson and other companies might go down this route, they will still want to protect their brand if a disaster strikes in one of their resorts.
“Like us, Thomson has a history and a heritage and a brand that it has built up over many years. I don’t believe it would risk all of that by leaving customers stranded,” he said.
By Bev Fearis
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Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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