An award-winning tour operator could be sold by its owner.

Skiing and sailing business Neilson Active Holidays, based in Locksview in Brighton Marina, is rumoured to be one of four companies being lined up for sale by travel firm Thomas Cook.

The others are Club 18-30, villa holidays group Style and Ireland's Sun World.

Neilson, run by twin brothers Pete and Pip Tyler, employs about 100 staff in Brighton and hundreds of seasonal staff abroad and is recognised as a leading activity-based holiday firm.

It was named best ski and snowboard company and best active holiday company in last year's British Travel Awards and best leisure and tourism company at the Sussex Business Awards.

A spokeswoman for the company poured cold water on the speculation that its owner was planning to put a for sale sign on the business.

She said: "As far as we are aware, this is purely a rumour."

Thomas Cook did confirm a strategic review of its UK operations was underway yesterday but its spokeswoman would not say which parts of the business this covered or whether a sale of any divisions was a likely outcome.

She said: "The strategic review is looking at the longer term development of the Thomas Cook UK and Ireland business."

Reports said Thomas Cook was planning to offload Club 18-30, famous for its bar crawls in places such as Ibiza and Tenerife, despite recent attempts to create a more sophisticated image.

Club 18-30 is run by brand management company Up Trips, which has just opened a 20-strong call centre in Brighton Marina.

Up also runs internet travel firms flexibletrips.com and roomsandhotels.com Club 18-30 has been introducing adventure and activity holidays to change its image, turning its back on past advert campaigns featuring slogans such as Summer Of 69'.

In November, Thomas Cook said this move, together with an influx of female clients, had helped shake off its laddish image.

At one time, as many as 60 to 70 per cent of customers were male but now the group said it had achieved a balance between male and female holidaymakers.

The firm, founded in 1965, was bought by Thomas Cook in 1998. Reports said the four businesses were most likely to be bought by private equity firms, although trade buyers may be interested.

Neilson became part of the Thomas Cook group in 1999 following a merger with Neilson Ski. The Tyler brothers began their careers as sailing and windsurfing instructors during university vacations in the South of France.

Today, Pete is Neilson's managing director and Pip the firm's overseas director.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006