Thomas Cook to close 21 stores as more holidaymakers book online
Thomas Cook is to introduce new measures to streamline its UK retail network due to more consumers choosing to book their holidays online.
The plans will include the closure of 21 stores across the UK to reduce Thomas Cook’s retail estate to 566 shops. Some 102 customer-facing roles are expected to be made redundant while a further 218 store-based roles may be removed across the network following a review of the company’s retail workforce. A consultation process with the affected staff and their union representatives has begun.
Thomas Cook said online accounted for 64% of its holiday bookings last year and is the fastest growing of all of its sales channels. In addition, two in five Thomas Cook holidaymakers departing from the UK now use the company’s app to help manage their holiday.
The company’s chief of tour operating, Will Waggott, said: “Today’s announcement reflects the wider challenges seen on the high street, with more and more customers choosing to book online. These measures will help us to drive greater efficiencies across Thomas Cook so that we relentlessly focus our resources in those areas that give us the greatest opportunity to make a difference to customers in our core holiday offering.”
