JTG set to scale back Newmans brand

Newmans Holidays is looking increasingly like to be scaled back as a mainstream brand by Jetset Travelworld, as Travel Today exclusively revealed 10 months ago.

No brochures have been scheduled for the 2012/2013 New Zealand summer season according to call centre staff with product expected to be offered by Qantas Holidays and Viva! Holidays instead.

Only a last minute change of heart will save Newmans as a touring brand. It was also omitted from a chart of JTG’s wholesale brands last month in a presentation to analysts.

Previously Newmans had been included in the portfolio list.

Travel Today revealed JTG’s plan to consolidate its wholesale brands in November (Travel Today, November 14).

It was denied by JTG at the time who said the specialist was here to stay.

But Newmans is indeed taking a back seat, at least in a touring capacity, as JTG continues to turns its focus on Qantas Holidays and Viva! Holidays.

It is unclear if a 2013 New Zealand ski brochure will be produced.

ReadyRooms will also play an increasingly prominent role in the organisation, with JTG at its annual results last month saying agents had “enthusiastically embraced” the ReadyRooms trade proposition.

The number of bookings in July doubled those of May.

JTG wholesaler general manager Michael Londregan was unavailable to comment at time of going to press.

The dedicated Travelscene Holidays brand is also being wound down, a move which observers said inevitably puts the future of the Jetset Holidays and Travelworld Holidays brands in doubt.