Airtours prepares for £15m brand campaign

Airtours is planning a massive overhaul of its retail brands. It is talking to advertising agencies about a £15m branding campaign.

The travel company is also understood to be considering ditching the names of some or all of its current portfolio of retail outlets – which includes Going Places – in favour of just one brand.

The overhaul is also thought to include Holidayline, Airtours’ telesales division.

The hunt for an agency is being headed by Tim Marsden who was appointed as marketing director of Airtours’ retail division last month (MW May 10).

Duckworth Finn Grubb Waters, Delaney Lund Knox Warren and Manchester-based BDH TBWA are all understood to be on the shortlist.

This latest move by the travel company comes just six months after the company brought in a new managing director for its retail divisions. UCI Cinema’s UK and Ireland managing director, Dave Harris, joined Airtours in January.

Harris’ first move was to axe Going Places’ acting marketing director, David Chambers, and close 120 of the company’s high street shops.

A spokeswoman for Airtours confirmed the agency search, but denied Airtours was planning to ditch any of its brands.