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(30 January 2004)
THOMSON Holidays and TV Travel Shop are continuing
talks after failing to renew a contract on commercial terms said to be worth
millions of pounds.
This follows rumours the managing director of TV
Travel Shop’s tour operation Island Blue, Michael Vinales, is leaving.
Meanwhile, TV Travel Shop commercial manager Helen Smith has left to become
Thomas Cook TV’s head of commercial.
Thomson’s contract with TV Travel Shop ended mid-2003
and talks to renew the deal began at the end of the year. But so far the two
companies have not agreed on commercial terms above the standard trading deal,
although there is “ongoing dialogue”. Terms are likely to relate to coverage of
Thomson’s product on the TV channels, commission payments and marketing
arrangements.
A TUI spokeswoman said: “Discussions are going on but
nothing is in place yet.”
Thomson still works closely with Sky Travel, a partner
of TUI-owned First Resort. No-one at TV Travel Shop was available for comment.
