NEWS ROUND-UP
READERS’ LIVES: “We went on a drama walk and saw locations used in Cheers and Good Will Hunting” Phil Hindle, page 40
West Africa operators eye sales upturn on FCO advice
Amie Keeley
amie.keeley@
travelweekly.co.uk
Operators are predicting a rise in bookings for West Africa over the next year after Sierra Leone was declared Ebola-free.
The Foreign & Commonwealth
Office lifted its advice against all non-essential travel to the country following the announcement. Though some nearby countries such as The Gambia were not hit by the virus and no travel restrictions were in place, travel companies which operate in the area said there had been a knock-on effect. Karen Durham, Serenity
Holidays’ product manager for The Gambia Experience, said: “We have seen a slow start this winter but we’re starting to get back to normal. The feedback from the trade is that customers want to travel. We’ve been working closely with the trade and we’re currently out on the road visiting agents. “We’re definitely predicting
increased growth for next year which will be helped by the change in situation in Sierra Leone.” Overland specialist Dragoman has reinstated tours to West Africa
Hays aims to top 30,000 tweets in festive campaign
Hays Travel branches around the country are getting into the festive spirit as the agency chain rekindles last year’s #HaysHolidaySleigh social media campaign. Helen Hays, digital marketing
executive at Hays Travel, is hoping to smash the level of social media interaction achieved by last year’s campaign when more
HELP SANTA: Hays’ campaign
than 30,000 customers tweeted to help Santa find his reindeer lost in Sunderland. The two-day campaign launches on Twitter on Thursday (November 12), giving customers the chance to win prizes including
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travelweekly.co.uk 12 November 2015
NEWS IN BRIEF
Riches rejoins YouTravel as managing director
Paul Riches has rejoined trade- only bed bank YouTravel as managing director. He will head the sales and service team, with responsibility for YouTravel’s UK and Ireland activities, having been made redundant from his role as global development director at Lowcostbeds.
Flybe to cease operations at Bournemouth in March
SIERRA LEONE: The country has been declared Ebola-free
“We’re beyond thrilled that we’re able to fully open our programme once again”
after a two-year hiatus and offers five trips through Sierra Leone and neighbouring countries, ranging from 23 days to 70 days. Managing director Charlie Hopkinson said: “Our West African trips were a sell-out when we introduced three trips in 2012, including a return to the Ivory Coast which we hadn’t included in
our itineraries since 2004. “In less than a year, we were
forced to suspend operations in light of FCO travel advice. “We’re beyond thrilled that
we’re now able to fully open our programme once again.” Specialist operator Oasis
Overland said it would also begin selling its nine and 21-week tours from the UK through Africa to include Sierra Leone for 2016 after suspending visits for the past two years. Director Chris Wrede said he was “confident” that the types of tourists who go on these trips
would book again. › Escorted Tours, page 44
a family holiday to Lapland. Staff across Hays’ 135 shops are being encouraged to get involved and each store has been given a Facebook ad to boost interactions in their local area. Hays South, formerly Bath
Travel, is involved in the campaign for the first time. Social media will be a theme of the Hays Travel Independence Group overseas conference in Portugal this month. It will focus on improving customer service and managing reputation online.
Flybe is to stop flying from Bournemouth airport after just a year from March 27, 2016. The airline opened a base at Bournemouth in March this year, serving destinations including Glasgow, Jersey, Manchester, Dublin, Amsterdam and Paris. It will instead focus on services from Southampton.
Thomas Cook seals deal to buy Kuoni’s Asia operation
Thomas Cook India has concluded the acquisition of Kuoni’s tour operating activities in Hong Kong. The 100% acquisition of Kuoni Hong Kong marks Thomas Cook India Group’s entry into Asia, including China, the world’s fastest-growing travel market.
Sales chief McKenna quits P&O Cruises and Cunard
P&O Cruises and Cunard head of sales Jeremy McKenna has resigned and will leave the business on December 1. Alex White will start his role of sales vice-president on December 1.
CAA unveils web directory for disabled travellers
The Civil Aviation Authority has created an online directory of services for disabled travellers. The single webpage includes links to the special-assistance webpages of UK airports and airlines. The new web directory is part of the regulator’s Your Right to Fly initiative.
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