Asked for an update on Classic Package Holidays and Classic Collection Holidays following On the Beach Group’s interim financial results release this morningne), Simon Cooper admitted trading had been tough. 

“It’s impossible to run a business in travel over the past four months without it having had a massive impact on 2020’s trading performance.”

The group bought Classic Collection Holidays in August 2018 before bringing out the package proposition at the end of March last year.   

Cooper said by the end of the last financial year it had built a network of 2,600 agents distributing using that platform, “and were driving significant volumes versus expectations for a first full year”. 

“We’ve done very little business over the past three months and most of what we booked in the early part of the year has been cancelled,” said Cooper. 

“We’ve tried with Classic Package and Classic Collection to treat agents fairly and build goodwill for the future. 

“Hopefully as we see the recovery we will see both those brands leap forward again. 

“We’d achieved a lot over a short period of time. We have great hopes for the future.”