[citation needed] The Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) opened its first Excursion Department in 1905 to work with railways, steamers, and tour operators to obtain the best rates for co-operative society excursions.

The joint venture did not include the latter's tour operating arm, which remained wholly within the Thomas Cook Group.

[5] Both chains retained their own branding, except for the small number of Thomas Cook's "Going Places" shops which were rebranded as The Co-operative Travel.

The partnership arrangement helped to retain the heritage and ethics of The Co-operative brand and to ensure the consistency of message.

These consultants worked from home, primarily by telephone, providing the same range of services as the High Street branches but for extended opening hours.

[7] In 2010, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) was given 45 working days to review whether to formally oppose the merger.

In 2016, the Co-operative Group decided that having a minority stake in a travel business no longer fit with its strategy and said that it would exercise its option to quit the joint venture.