Package firms to axe holiday reps

Travel firms are set to kill off the post of resort rep.

TUI - parent of Thomson, Britain's biggest package holiday firm - is to scrap reps on its cheapest deals. Rival Cosmos may follow suit in 2006.

Holidaymakers increasingly book their own flights, hotels, excursions and transfers via the internet. Many do not want to pay extra for a rep.

Thomson wants reps to be for high-paying customers rather than for everyone. TUI managing director Peter Rothwell said: "There is not a great difference in how we service these people in resort and there should be."