Airtours chief Carrick kicks off 6.5m review

Tour operator Airtours is reviewing its 6.5m advertising account with Manchester agency Sass Panayi, following the appointment of a new marketing director.

A spokesman for Airtours says the company has spoken to agencies in the North and in London, though he refuses to name which agencies are in the frame to pick up the account.

He would not confirm whether the incumbent was among the listed agencies.

The chosen agency will work on an advertising campaign to be launched next summer. Airtours cumulative bookings for summer 1996 were down 24 per cent to the start of April.

The ad review was sparked by the recent appointment of a new marketing director, Richard Carrick, who has returned to the tour operator from hotel giant Granada.

He joined Forte from Airtours last October, just before Granada’s hostile takeover bid.

At the end of last year, Airtours appointed the Poulter Agency to handle its 500,000 account for the Eurosites camping holiday business.