buyout. The operator has received an undisclosed amount from Moorfield Real Estate Funds, a UK real estate and private equity fund manager, for a “significant minority shareholding” in Shearings. The management team retains the majority shareholding after the buyout, led by chief executive Denis Wormwell, in June.
Norwegian to establish long-haul base at Gatwick Norwegian is to set up a long-haul base at Gatwick. The airline already has 90 pilots and 200 cabin crew members at the airport, where it opened a short-haul base in 2013, and will recruit Gatwick- based long-haul crew early next year. Norwegian is also recruiting pilots for its JFK base.
“The market was made challenging by geopolitical events in Egypt, Thailand, Kenya and Ukraine”
Kuoni explains a 6% fall in revenue for the six months to June
MORE IN TRAVEL WEEKLY BUSINESS: BACK PAGE
Fred Olsen Travel opens shop in Cambridge airport Fred Olsen Travel is to open a new outlet at Cambridge airport on September 8. It will be the company’s first in-airport store and ninth outlet in East Anglia and will be located in the check-in area of the newly refurbished terminal. A three-night break in Amsterdam costs from £329 for flights and a four-star hotel.
Shearings Group secures private equity backing Shearings Group has secured additional private equity backing to help fund further expansion following its recent management
Botswana advises travellers to comply with Ebola rules The Botswana Ministry of Health has put restrictions on visitors coming to the country who have been to countries affected by Ebola in the past three months. The Botswana Tourism Organisation advises all travellers to abide by the regulations and take advice from immigration and health officials at ports of entry, including complying with Ebola screening and travel-tracing formalities.
River Cruise Line appoints Fleming to boost business The River Cruise Line has appointed Tim Fleming as sales and business development manager. He boasts more than 20 years’ experience in the travel industry, including stints at Page & Moy, Royal Caribbean, Van Gogh Cruises and All Leisure Holidays. Fleming will also oversee The River Cruise Line’s sister companies Diamond Rail Holidays and Diamond Holidays Coach Breaks in the UK and Europe.
Travel Counsellors treats staff to Alton Towers family day
Travel Counsellors treated about 100 of its consultants and their families to a day out at Alton Towers. The annual family day was sponsored
by Royal Caribbean International and was also attended by employees from the firm’s Bolton head office. Agent Penny MacPherson said: “We had such a lovely time at the Alton Towers Family Day. It was great to spend time with friends and make some new ones too. The day really made me feel a part of something special.” As well as the family fun day, Travel
Counsellors also runs TC Teens and TC Kids programmes to help parent agents. ❯ More pictures, page 59
Fred Holidays launches Fred Expeditions division Fred Holidays has launched a brand offering expedition cruises. Fred Expeditions will feature a
collection of cruises from specialist expedition operators, some of which are not well known to the UK travel trade, in what the operator believes is a first for a UK tour operator. “We saw a
gap in the market for putting all these niche cruises under one roof,” said head of cruise Geoff Ridgeon. Fred Holidays has already set up a Fred River Cruises brand. The expeditions programme will
Tim Fleming has joined The River Cruise Line
8 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 28 August 2014
focus on the Arctic and Antarctic and include cruises with lines such as G Adventures, Hurtigruten, Lindblad Expeditions, Oceanwide Expeditions, Poseidon Expeditions, Quark Expeditions and Silversea Expeditions. On-shore activities offered will include camping, fishing,
“We want to make it
easier to sell expedition cruises”
helicopter tours, hiking, kayaking, mountaineering, photography workshops, polar diving, ski-trekking and coast tours via Zodiac. Ridgeon added: “Historically, the expedition market has not been the easiest for travel agents to source and can be confusing. We want to make it easier for agents to sell expedition cruises, particularly if they do not feel confident in selling it.”
The cruises
will feature online at
Fredexpeditions.
co.uk and
information packs about the brand have been
prepared for agents interested in selling the brand. Prices start at £4,799
for an 11-day cruise-only Antarctic Classic expedition with G Adventures, including accommodation on a full-board basis on board Expedition.
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