Clarity has launched a new sports travel division – Clarity Sports – after recruiting the entire Thomas Cook Sports team travel management team.
Within 48 hours of the collapse of Thomas Cook on 23 September, Manchester-based business travel firm Clarity stepped in and employed the Thomas Cook Sport staff. The new division was then created.
Pat McDonagh, CEO of Clarity, said: “Players, fans and officials of multiple teams across football, rugby and cricket have all been left in a very difficult situation following the demise of Thomas Cook Sport.
“The logistics of moving sports teams from game to game is a complex operation and because we were already working with many of these clubs, we were able to move quickly to offer jobs to those impacted by the Thomas Cook situation. They quickly joined our team and together we had the industry knowledge to step in at short notice and give practical solutions.
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“We have enormous sympathy for the fans who have also been affected by the collapse of Thomas Cook Sport and understand that the clubs and the CAA are doing everything they can to ensure they don’t miss out on the games they’d already booked packages for.
“Right now our focus is on team travel and logistics, however where possible we are assisting the clubs with future supporter travel plans.”
Clarity has employed 17 new staff, all from Thomas Cook Sport, to form the new Clarity Sports division. Rob Slawson, formerly head of Thomas Cook Sport, will lead the new division which will be based at Clarity’s Manchester HQ.
Slawson said: “My team found out about the situation with Thomas Cook at the same time as every other employee and we were given no time to tie up any loose ends before exiting the building.
“Clarity is a business we already knew and it was a natural move for me and my team. We know this is one of many situations where the skills and expertise of former Thomas Cook staff are going to be in demand across the travel industry.”
As the Clarity Sports proposition matures, Clarity is looking at the next phase of its sports division being the creation of a supporter-based operation, offering ticket and travel packages to “bucket list” sporting events worldwide.