NEWS — DIGEST
“The Aphrodite Hills Resort and Tui Travel fiasco has raised some interesting points” Miles Morgan, page 32
GAZETTEERS.COM POLL RESULT
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST BARRIER TO INDEPENDENT AGENTS SELLING THOMSON? 1% Lack of product knowledge 99% Thomson’s online discounts
Helen Roberts,
Kuoni, wins Young Manager of the Year
Thomas Cook Airlines will start flying to NY and Miami from Manchester
Thomas Cook Airlines will offer flights to New York and Miami from Manchester from May next year. The carrier will operate three times a week to New York and twice a week to Miami, and also introduce a new premium service on long-haul routes, offering priority check-in and the chance to reserve seats in advance. Thomas Cook Airlines has operated Manchester as a long-haul hub since last year, bringing customers in on connecting flights. Thomas Cook launched seven Summer 2015 brochures this
week, two preview and five full brochures, including Thomas Cook Signature and Airtours Holidays. They include additions to Thomas Cook’s Sentido, Smartline and Sunprime offerings.
Sabre starts charging £6 a month for its Red Mobile Workspace app
Sabre will charge agents for using its Sabre Red Mobile Workspace app from this week. The app allows flight, room and car rental bookings to be made from a mobile device, as well as giving access to passenger name records, customer profiles and so on. From May 1 the app will cost just over £6 a month to use.
Sabre Red Mobile Workspace was launched last November, when Sabre said it planned to introduce a fee. One major travel management company (TMC) said: “Some of our staff use the product and like it and we will pay for it.” However, another TMC said: “Sabre must be out of their minds. Why they think agents would pay is beyond me.”
Bobby Cole Norris shows off his Fearless Flyer certificate with easyJet pilot Chris Foster and cabin crew member Natalie Puncher
Abta issues new guidance on tax status of agents Abta has issued updated guidance on the legal and tax status of agents following the Supreme Court ruling on Medhotels, which “recognises how some types of commercial behaviour that might traditionally have been indicative of principal status might legitimately be adopted by an agent”. The guidance note, entitled ‘Agent or Principal: how does your business trade?’ is available on
Abta.com.
Towie star conquers fear of flying in time for Marbs The Only Way is Essex star Bobby Cole Norris has conquered his fear of flying after attending easyJet’s Fearless Flyer course at Stansted airport. Norris has had a flying phobia since he was a child and took the course in time for Towie’s annual trip to Marbella. The course includes a three-hour ground session teaching mind techniques and a special flight to put participants’ skills to the test.
Best of British honoured at Hall of Fame dinner
The industry’s young talent was among those recognised at the British Travel & Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame annual dinner in London. Helen Roberts, head of
direct sales for Kuoni, picked up the gong for Young Manager of the Year at the event at The Savoy hotel in London. Simon Purchase, managing
director for Cruisingexcursions. com, took home the Young Entrepreneur award. New members inducted into the Hall of Fame were Michael Batt, founder and co-chairman of Travel Leaders Group; James Hogan, president and chief executive of Etihad Airways; Chris Browne, managing director of Thomson Airways; David Radcliffe, chief executive of Hogg Robinson Group; and Michael East, managing director of Gisby East. Tui Travel’s Jane Ashton,
director of group sustainable development, received the Ambassador Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Travel. Carolyn McCall, chief
executive of easyJet, received the Hall of Fame 2014 Business Achievement Award.
1 May 2014 —
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