ALL ABOUT YOU — LETTERS
We do back indies In response to last week’s letter headlined ‘Cook and Indies’, Thomas Cook would like to reassure agents of its ongoing commitment to the trade. This was highlighted recently by UK managing director Salman Syed (pictured) at the ITT Conference, where he spoke extensively about the company’s plans to invest in and grow both its own retail network and relationships with third-party agents. l Spokesperson, Thomas Cook
Flightstore closure Story: Jobs at risk as Virgin Atlantic moves to close Flightstore Very sad that very good people are possibly out of work. But the required technology wasn’t there, and possibly the support at the end wasn’t either. l Trevor B
Bland platitudes Story: ‘Be more than a place to get a brochure’, Aito delegates told Some of the ‘insights’ from the recent conference season beggar belief. Surely the bigger story is that hundreds of travel executives are travelling at great expense to nice locations to hear platitudes
of the ‘bleeding obvious’ like this? l Thirdeyebob
By removing brochures and engaging in conversation with customers, agents demonstrate high customer service and product knowledge and increase conversions. These agents are having their best-ever sales. l Proud to be an Agent
Child-snatch reports Story: Child-kidnapping scare The story reported in the local paper in Cyprus was about a teenager taking photos in and around the hotel. Police found nothing suspicious on his camera, so he was released. Anything else seems to be a fabrication, possibly by Brits hoping to get a refund. l Colin Etherington
Issue CO cards Story: Thomas Cook launches CO poisoning awareness initiative Perhaps operators could give out those little plastic cards with carbon monoxide sensors for all customers staying in properties that could be affected. At £1 per family in self-catering properties it could be a good initiative. l Millsymoo
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Taxing thoughts
LETTERS OF THE WEEK
Story: Tory London mayor hopeful pushes for tourist tax
What a stupid idea. Rather than look to increase tourist numbers and boost jobs, revenues and the other reasons for visiting London, we will simply tax people on top of the high VAT rate. This is badly thought through. l Kevin Hall
London is the number-one tourist destination in the world. A small but progressive tourist tax is a great way to increase revenue for the city without decreasing the appeal of London. If you think such a small tax would deter people from visiting then you have little faith in London’s popularity; it simply won’t have an impact. l Jason Hill
Taxes rarely go directly to the good cause they are claimed to be for, while the cost of raising the tax adds bureaucracy. And once started, the tax will rise and rise. l Nick
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Travelweekly.co.uk. The deadline is midday Monday.
How many of your customers ask if a hotel has free Wi-Fi?
A lot 47%
Poll conducted June 22 •
gazetteers.com
Some 35%
Few 18%
GROUP
LETTERS
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