The Co-operative Travel
Encyclopedia
The Co-operative Travel is the trading name of Co-op Group Travel 1 Ltd., a subsidiary of the Co-operative Group. 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.
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. 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
.
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. 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.
On 6th January 2010, the Office of Fair Trading
(OFT) was given 45 working days to review whether to formally oppose the merger. 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.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
; it is a member of the Co-operative Travel Trading Group
Co-operative Travel Trading Group
The Co-operative Travel Trading Group is the central buying group for co-operative travel agents in the United Kingdom. It is organised by the Co-operative Group on behalf of the regional societies, which are themselves corporate members of Co-operative Group Ltd.The CTTG was established along the...
and is both ABTA
Association of British Travel Agents
-History:Previously known as Association of British Travel Agents, its name was changed on 1 July 2007 to ABTA, The Travel Association to reflect its wider representation of the travel industry.On 1 July 2008 it merged with the Federation of Tour Operators ....
and ATOL
Air Travel Organisers' Licensing
Air Travel Organisers' Licensing is a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority scheme to protect people who have purchased package holidays and flights from a member tour operator....
bonded. Members of The Co-operative Group are entitled to earn dividend
Dividend
Dividends are payments made by a corporation to its shareholder members. It is the portion of corporate profits paid out to stockholders. When a corporation earns a profit or surplus, that money can be put to two uses: it can either be re-invested in the business , or it can be distributed to...
on all purchases, excluding those made from franchises.
The Co-operative Travel was formed by the integration of the Travelcare business with United Co-operatives
United Co-operatives
United Co-operatives Limited, or simply United Co-op, was the largest regional consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom until its merger with The Co-operative Group in 2007. The Society operated across Yorkshire, the north west and north Midlands of England...
' Co-op Travel subsidiary on the merger of the two societies in 2007. 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
Anglia Regional Co-operative Society
Anglia Regional Co-operative Society Limited is the fifth largest consumer co-operative in the United Kingdom. It was formed by the merger of the Greater Peterborough Regional and Anglia Co-operative Societies in 1987. The Society has a wide-ranging and extensive portfolio with over 100 stores,...
.
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
Thomas Cook Group
Thomas Cook Group plc is a travel company created on 19 June, 2007 by the merger of Thomas Cook AG and MyTravel Group plc. At flotation on the London Stock Exchange 52% of the shares in the new company were held by the German mail order and department store corporation Arcandor and 48% owned by...
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. 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.
On 6th January 2010, the Office of Fair Trading
Office of Fair Trading
The Office of Fair Trading is a not-for-profit and non-ministerial government department of the United Kingdom, established by the Fair Trading Act 1973, which enforces both consumer protection and competition law, acting as the UK's economic regulator...
(OFT) was given 45 working days to review whether to formally oppose the merger. 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.