- The Co-operative Travel
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The Co-operative Travel 
Type Business of a consumer co-operative Industry Retail Headquarters Manchester, England Products Travel agent Parent The Co-operative Group 
The Co-operative Travel is the trading name of Co-op Group Travel 1 Ltd., a subsidiary of the Co-operative Group.[1] The largest independent travel agent in the United Kingdom; it is a member of the Co-operative Travel Trading Group and is both ABTA and ATOL bonded. Members of The Co-operative Group are entitled to earn dividend on all purchases, excluding those made from franchises.[2]
The Co-operative Travel was formed by the integration of the Travelcare business with United Co-operatives' Co-op Travel subsidiary on the merger of the two societies in 2007.[3] Some, but not all, regional societies also operate their own in-house travel agents under the national co-operative travel brand, an example being Anglia Regional Co-operative Society.[4]
It was announced on 8 October 2010 that The Co-operative Travel was to merge with the High Street shops of the Thomas Cook Group to create the UK's largest retail travel network. The joint venture does not include the latter's tour operating arm, which will remain wholly within the Thomas Cook Group.[5] The deal will see the new network 70%-owned by Thomas Cook and 30%-owned by The Co-operative Group. Both sets of High street stores will retain their own branding, except for the small number of Thomas Cook's Going Places shops which will be rebranded as Co-operative Travel.
The merger will also include the Co-operative's home-working division: The Co-operative Personal Travel Advisors (formerly known as Future Travel). These consultants work from home, primarily by telephone, providing the same range of services as the High Street shops but for extended opening hours. [6]
On 6th January 2010, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) was given 45 working days to review whether to formally oppose the merger.[7] The Office of Fair Trading requested a referral from the European Commission and, in turn, referred the case to the Competition Commission in March 2011; in July 2011 it was announced that the Competition Commission raised no objections to the merger[8].
References
- ^ Incorporated in 2010 and registered in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985, No. 7413801
- ^ The Co-operative Membership The Co-operative Travel (retrieved 20 August 2009)
- ^ Top UK co-ops agree merger terms BBC News, 17 February 2007 03:29 GMT
- ^ The Co-operative Travel Anglia Regional Co-operative Society (retrieved 21 August 2009)
- ^ Landmark deal to create the UK’s largest travel retail network The Co-operative Group, 8 October 2010
- ^ [http://www.ttglive.com/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=3208370&CMPI_SHARED_articleId=4432702&CMPI_SHARED_ImageArticleId=4432702&CMPI_SHARED_articleIdRelated=4432702&CMPI_SHARED_ToolsArticleId=4432702&CMPI_SHARED_CommentArticleId=4432702&articleTitle=Future%20Travel%20name%20to%20go%20in%20Co-op%20rebrand&fromSearch=yes
- ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1344965/OFT-review-planned-Thomas-Cook--Co-op-Travel-merger.html
- ^ http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/Articles/2011/07/21/37706/competition+commission+approves+thomas+cook+and+co-operative+travel+merger.html Competition Commission approves Thomas Cook and Co-operative Travel merger
External links
The Co-operative Group Retail The Co-operative Food (including Somerfield Stores) · The Co-operative Pharmacy · The Co-operative Travel · The Co-operative Funeralcare · The Co-operative Motor Group · Co-operative Financial Services (The Co-operative Bank · The Co-operative Insurance · Smile · Britannia) · Co-operative Legal Services · The Co-operative ElectricalWholesale People Peter Marks (Chief Executive) · Len Wardle (Chair)Headquarters Categories:- Cooperatives
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