CTTG set to launch

THE new Co-operative Travel Trading Group (CTTG) has passed two more important milestones as it prepares to manage commercial and marketing activities on behalf of five of the Movement&#039s travel businesses.

The agreement, which formally establishes the organisation in its role as the CRTG of co-operative travel, has been signed by the chief executives of the five societies involved ? the Co-operative Group, United Co-operatives, Midlands Co-op, West Midlands Co-op and Leeds Co-op ? at the inaugural meeting of the CTTG Steering Group, which will oversee the body&#039s development.

CTTG will take on commercial responsibility for these businesses from September 1st and negotiations with travel suppliers are already underway.

A CTTG Implementation Group has also been established to ensure that the commercial policies are effectively rolled out across a holiday and travel network which includes more than 600 retail outlets as well as a major presence in the call centre and internet sectors and the UK&#039s largest home working operation.

The Implementation Group will also take responsibility for implementing the policy decisions of the new CTTG marketing department on behalf of the five businesses, the first elements of which will be in place before the end of this year.

The group is chaired by CTTG&#039s General Manager ? Commercial, Mike Beaumont and consists of members of CTTG&#039s senior team as well as representatives from the Co-op travel businesses involved, which between them account for leisure travel sales worth &#163 1.3 billion annually.

Mike Beaumont explained: `The Implementation Group will have a vital role to play in ensuring that the five businesses act as a cohesive force in both commercial and marketing terms in the travel marketplace.

`A tremendous amount of progress has been made since the launch of CTTG was announced earlier in the year and the five businesses are pulling together very effectively as a team. There are undoubtedly exciting times ahead for CTTG and the Co-operative Movement&#039s travel interests.`

The CTTG operation will be responsible for around 90 per cent of the Movement&#039s travel businesses, with only the award-winning Ilkeston Co-op Travel operation remaining outside the new grouping.