NEWS — HOT STORIES 4
Princess Cruises unveils wave of online tools as it migrates away from CCS system
Alex White, the line’s head of sales, said the decision followed feedback from the trade that highlighted agents’ issues with the CCS system. “Agents told us they wanted our online tools to be simple to understand and easy to use,” he said. “We’ve created what is, in effect, a one-stop-shop
for our agent partners and we’re investing a lot with these new tools. “
OneSourcecruises.com is a system which is more
Hollie-Rae Merrick
Princess Cruises is ditching the Complete Cruise Solution (CCS) booking portal and investing in its own online tools after agent feedback highlighted a need for a simpler and tailored system. The line began distancing itself from Carnival UK
sister brands Cunard and P&O Cruises when it set up its own separate sales team two years ago. At the Clia UK and Ireland Selling Cruise
Conference this week the line was poised to announce the introduction of Princess-only online tools, including a new booking portal called OneSource, a new flight booking system and revamped training modules.
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relevant. It’s an evolution which has come about since setting up the dedicated sales team. We’re doing all this because we understand how important it is that agents find us easy to do business with.” During a transition period, both CCS and OneSource, which goes live this week, will work. Princess will also introduce a flight booking service on OneSource in the next three months as it moves
“We’ve invested a lot in what is a one-stop-shop for agent partners”
away from the current Flight Select service. White promised the new system would be “simpler and more intuitive”. The Princess Academy online course has also been
cut down and made into “26 bite-sized modules”, with the addition of five sections. ❯ Cruise News, page 32
5Tourism minister supports cutting VAT to 5% Ian Taylor
New tourism minister Tracey Crouch supports a key demand of the domestic and inbound sectors – a cut in VAT on accommodation to 5%. Crouch (pictured), MP for Chatham
and Aylesford in Kent, was appointed minister for tourism and sport at the Department for Culture last week. In January, she posed a question
in Parliament to the then culture secretary Sajid Javid, asking if he had discussed “the benefits of a cut to VAT” with the Treasury. Crouch argued: “Tourism VAT rates
across the EU are much lower than in the UK.” Javid said he was in “ongoing discussions with the
Treasury” on the issue. Prime minister David Cameron completed the travel and tourism-related appointments to his
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travelweekly.co.uk — 21 May 2015
government by making an MP with eight years’ experience in the hospitality industry responsible for Air Passenger Duty. Damian Hinds, MP for East Hampshire, was confirmed as exchequer secretary to the Treasury. Hinds worked for InterContinental Hotels Group from 1995 to 2003 before entering Parliament in 2010. Robert Goodwill returned as aviation
minister at the Department for Transport in the other travel-related appointment. Abta issued a guide to the new ministers, with head of public affairs
Stephen D’Alfonso declaring: “Continuity has been a clear theme in the appointments. There will not be too much change at the senior
level as far as travel and tourism is concerned.” He added that new culture secretary John Whittingdale and Crouch “have an excellent understanding of the industry”.
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