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BCAA shuts travel offices, lays off 157

Last Updated: Monday, October 26, 2009 | 1:34 PM PT

CBC News

The B.C. Automobile Association says it's closing all of its storefront travel offices on Jan. 15, putting 157 people out of work.

The association will continue to offer travel services online, by phone and through its customer service centre in Burnaby, B.C., and will ensure all existing travel bookings are fulfilled, said BCAA president Bill Bullis.

But the association is also accepting offers from other travel companies that might want to buy the association's remaining travel business. They will also offer career counselling for staff members losing their jobs.

Bullis blamed the rise of the Internet industry and a fall in agency commissions for making it difficult to operate the travel business at a profit.

The rest of the BCAA's business, including its popular insurance services will continue to operate as normal, said Bullis.

With files from The Canadian Press.

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