ALL ABOUT YOU — LETTERS
LETTERS
We sell Thomson Story: Independent agents still ‘important’ says Tui
Stop moaning about Thomson discounts; it gets boring. I work for a very strong regional indie. We sell lots of Thomson holidays. OK, sometimes we don’t get the sale due to online prices, but this also happens with other operators, such as Olympic, Cosmos, Red Sea, Inghams and Balkan, to name just a few. Let’s also remember that travel agents pushed many operators to discount direct online, and even offline, by starting to move in to DP holidays that often now undercut tour operators – so why shouldn’t the operators offer direct discounts to win back some of the package business? l Guest indie agent
Cook’s reality Story: Virtual reality content on trial at Thomas Cook store Funniest thing I’ve read in ages! Typical Cook – spending big bucks trying to keep up with their competition. l Laughter
If they didn’t do this you’d all be whingeing about them being stuck in the dark ages! l 21st Century
Thais are happier Letter: Smile, Thailand ‘OK’ A recent opinion poll found that the vast majority (95%) of Thai people agree that “life continues as normal”. They also feel “happier” and agree that under the care of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) Thailand is better run, with the implementation of several new policies.
l Joanna Cooke, UK consumer marketing and PR manager, Tourism Authority of Thailand
Need help? Just ask Letter: Where’s help, MSC? MSC Cruises is happy to provide a wheelchair to any guest at embarkation. We ask that anyone needing help makes us or their travel agent aware at the time of booking so we can arrange the appropriate level of assistance at all ports on their cruise. l Giles Hawke, executive director, MSC Cruises
Tipto races a winner Many thanks to Lorna, Kerri, Zena, the suppliers and all at Tipto for a great 15th birthday event at Pontefract races. Proud to support the suppliers and organisations that support the indie trade.” l Darren Bond, Global Travel Group
Monarch mission
Story: Monarch Airlines to lose 1,000 jobs as company restructures
Although restructuring the business model is sensible and overdue it makes little sense to cut the fleet dramatically. Monarch’s new business model [it plans to become a scheduled-only carrier from April 2015] does at least give it a fighting chance of competing with easyJet in that it can offer a flexible flight programme to chosen destinations. But it will not be able to fulfil this if it does not have the aircraft to deliver it. The travelling public will not believe the corporate
baloney that will accompany a downsizing. They will see this as an airline at risk and will book elsewhere. Monarch also has a massive responsibility to all the pilots and crew it has recruited in the past year – many of whom left stable jobs elsewhere – on the strength of growth promises. If they are made redundant their only viable options will be to leave the UK for jobs abroad. l Jax
Travel Weekly would welcome a response from Monarch Airlines
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LETTER OF THE WEEK
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