Going Places posters aim to pre-empt OFT rap

Travel agent Going Places is pre-empting expected criticism of the travel industry from the Office of Fair Trading by revealing its connections to tour operator parent Airtours.

The UK’s second biggest travel agency chain will for the first time put up posters in all its branches telling consumers that they will first be recommended an Airtours holiday, if it is appropriate, before being offered holidays from other tour operators.

The move comes just as the Office of Fair Trading is due to release its report into the travel market following a year-long investigation.

The OFT is looking at the tour operators’ ownership of travel agencies – Airtours owns Going Places, Thomson owns Lunn Poly – because of fears that consumers may be directed towards the parent company’s holiday packages, rather than being given a proper choice.

The OFT is likely to insist that travel companies be more open with consumers about ownership of high street outlets.

Although Going Places says its move is unconnected with the forthcoming report, it has been applauded by Labour’s shadow consumer affairs minister Nigel Griffiths MP. Earlier this year, he said travel companies should use a single name across all parts of their group.

“I think that David Crossland [chairman of Airtours plc] is demonstrating how necessary it is to take the lead in this,” Griffiths says.

Rival travel agency chain Lunn Poly says it has signs in branches to make its ownership clear. It says it sells customers the holiday which most suits their needs, regardless of who owns the package.

Thomas Cook, whose parent company has a stake in First Choice, takes the same line.

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