NEWS — DIGEST
“Who hasn’t tried to convince the boss that they need a month on full pay in the Caribbean to ‘really help secure those deals’” Andy Freeth, page 26
GAZETTEERS.COM POLL
WILL THOMAS COOK REGRET CUTTING COMMISSION FOR THIRD-PARTY AGENTS? 93% Yes 7% No
Peter Stewart
PPA appoints ex-Dollar Thrifty chief Knopek as group managing director
PPA Group has recruited Tom Knopek, former managing director of Dollar Thrifty Europe, as group managing director. Knopek will join the travel and technology specialist on May 1
after 20 years in the car rental industry. He managed Dollar Thrifty Europe before Hertz acquired the company and was most recently managing director of Hertz’s business to North America. He left the role in January 2015. Knopek has also spent 10 years at Avis as leisure sales director,
nine years as sales director at Forte Hotels and nine years in Spain with the International Leisure Group. PPA Group chief executive Phil Cook said: “Tom will bring a lot of
valuable management experience and commercial development into the group, as we look to further develop our existing business and grow our position in each of the markets we operate in.”
Harrison to leave role at Whitbread
The boss of Premier Inn parent Whitbread is to retire to “seek new challenges”. Chief executive Andy Harrison, who previously held the same title at easyJet, will step down in February 2016. A succession process, led by chairman Richard Baker, will consider internal and external candidates. The announcement came as Whitbread released
annual results for the year to February 26, showing that its hotels and restaurants division’s operating profits rose by 15.3% to £401.4 million.
Portugual offers places at agent achievement awards The Portuguese National Tourist Office is offering agents the chance to win one of eight places on a table at the Travel Weekly Agent Achievement Awards at the Park Plaza Hotel in London on July 7. To be in with a chance of winning, complete a short survey on the Travel Weekly website. All entrants will also be entered into a draw to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Lisbon and Porto.
travelweekly.co.uk/portugalsurvey
Dawson & Sanderson agent wins Sandals wedding Stewart Bell of Dawson & Sanderson, Whitley Bay, has won a wedding and seven-night stay in new resort Sandals Barbados. He won Sandals’ competition asking agents to write 100 words on why they would like to win a wedding and holiday for his piece about his fiancee Sarah. Bell (right) received his prize from Sandals Resorts’ business development manager Gary Atwell.
Travel stunned by sudden loss of Peter Stewart
Peter Stewart, one of the industry’s most respected lawyers, died suddenly on Tuesday morning. A partner at law firm
Fieldfisher, Stewart was a central figure in the most high-profile law cases of the last decade. He led Abta’s successful challenge to the CAA over the definition of a package holiday in the High Court in 2006 and the subsequent appeal. He also led the defence of senior figures at Travel Republic charged with breach of the Atol Regulations in 2008. Abta chairman Noel Josephides said: “Peter was the sharpest legal mind the industry has ever had. What made him different was that he never hedged his bets.” Industry legal consultant
Andy Cooper said: “Peter was the doyen of travel lawyers. His work impacted massively on the industry. He will be greatly missed." Chris Photi, partner at White Hart Associates who worked regularly with Stewart, said: “Peter was a lovely man, a great guy and the most talented lawyer I’ve come across.” Stewart died from a suspected heart attack.
30 April 2015 —
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