Duckworth Finn wins £15m Airtours

Duckworth Finn Grubb Waters is understood to have scooped the £15m branding campaign for Airtours.

It is believed the travel group is considering axing some of the brands in its portfolio of retail outlets, including Going Places, and replacing them with a single brand.

The three-way pitch, through the AAR, is believed to have included Delaney Lund Knox Warren and Manchester-based BDH TBWA (MW June 7).

Airtours would not make any comment as to whether a decision had been made.

Airtours decided to work with agencies on a project basis after splitting with CDP last year.

Both Harris and Marsden have been reported as saying a fresh and creative approach is needed to make the Airtours brands stand out in the competitive arena of the high street.

The pitch was overseen by Tim Marsden, who was recently appointed marketing director for retail brands (MW May 10).

Marsden replaced the ousted David Chambers in January this year. Chambers was made redundant, along with six other senior managers, as part of a company restructure overseen by new managing director Dave Harris.

Airtours also closed 120 of its 840 high street stores, blaming an increase in holiday bookings made over the telephone.

Going Places and Travelworld stores will be affected by the closures.