TRAVEL WEEKLY BUSINESS
LEGISLATORS RACE TO CONCLUDE THE REVISION OF PACKAGE TRAVEL DIRECTIVE
Lee Hayhurst
The process that will lead to the revision of the European Package Travel Directive that underpins the UK Atol scheme is at a critical stage. European legislators, which published a
draft proposal in July 2013, are in a race against time to conclude the process ahead of the summer recess. The current Latvian presidency of the
European Council of Ministers is said to be eager to be able to report a successful conclusion before the end of June. Before it enters law, the council, made
up of representatives of member states’ governments, and the European parliament, must reach an agreement on the details. Stephen D’Alfonso, Abta’s head of public
affairs, said the summer deadline had prompted “a noticeable quickening in the pace of discussions on the directive”. He said a late summer announcement of the conclusion of talks would offer European lawmakers the ideal opportunity to grab the headlines as holidaymakers head for the beach. “We know the political will to complete
the directive is there, and we also understand there is a keen commitment from the institutions to get this revision right. “We are entering a crucial couple of weeks
for negotiations in Brussels on a revised Package Travel Directive.” Failure to agree the details before the summer would require the process to continue into the autumn. The timetable
ELECTION COUNTDOWN
By STEPHEN D’ALFONSO, head of public affairs, Abta
THREE WEEKS TO GO: AID OUR ADVOCATES
“We know the political will to complete the directive is there, and we also understand there is a keen commitment to get the revision right”
of having the directive in place for summer 2017 would then be pushed back. D’Alfonso said “consumer protections must be clarified and enhanced” and demanded “click-through holiday arrangements” fall within the scope of the package definition. In January, Travel Weekly reported how the
UK government had conceded defeat on one of the more contentious aspects of the draft directive. This will involve responsibility for regulated firms switching from the country of sale to the country in which the firm is established. It is feared that firms will relocate based
on how expensive protection regimes are to comply with and that this could lead to a reduction in the level of protection.
ABTA REAPPOINTS BACON AS BRAND DEVELOPMENT BOSS
Abta’s former head of communications, Victoria Bacon, has returned to the organisation in the new role of head of brand and business development. She will focus on developing Abta’s
‘Travel with Confidence’ campaign and commercial activities, as well as directing the communications function.
The senior management position
has overall responsibility for strategic communications, including media relations. Its creation follows a
review of the association’s current and future needs. Bacon, the association’s communications chief between January 2011 and September 2014, has overall responsibility for the strategic management of the Abta brand, ensuring consistency and optimising its commercial
With three weeks till polling day, the general election campaign is ramping up – and so is support for Abta’s #ValueTourism campaign, which has gathered more than 100 supportive candidates. So thank you to those involved. The election campaign is back on TV tonight with the opposition leaders’ debate. The economy will be a major focus and I would hope to see the challengers outline how they will support our industry. However, I suspect tourism will not be mentioned, which only goes to show the need to promote the value of our sector. We shouldn’t feel discouraged. While the main party messages might not focus on tourism, the number of candidates who have got in touch to express support has been heartening. From every corner of the UK, candidates
have explained why they #ValueTourism. As well as those standing in areas where tourism is vital, we have also been contacted by several candidates who have worked in our industry or who own travel and tourism businesses. Whatever the outcome politically, this has been a worthwhile exercise. It has helped to ensure the next parliament will receive a cohort of MPs who know the worth of our industry, are aware of the challenges we face and who will
stand up for our interests. The challenge is to make this
team of advocates as big as we can and to maximise our influence across the political spectrum.
abta.com/electionhub
potential. She will also play a leading role in relationship management with Abta members. Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “Victoria brings to her role as head of brand and business development a strong background in marketing and communications, within both an agency and plc environment, together with her knowledge of
Abta and experience in developing the Travel with Confidence strategy.”
16 April 2015 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 69
“She has a strong background in
marketing in an agency and plc environment”
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