p5 news jan23 21/1/09 21:46 Page 5
ttglive.com
news
In brief
Kiss’s new owner eyes
C
O
■ Elite welcomes ‘defected Worldchoice agents’ STO
VER
Elite Travel Group has welcomed three new
R
members to the consortium, including Spa Travel
in Boston Spa, West Yorkshire, and Select World
‘profitable expansion’
Y
Travel in Poole, Dorset. The new members,
which Elite claimed defected from Worldchoice,
joined the consortium on January 1. The third
Lucy Huxley.
As a consequence of the deal, Meridian will
member has asked not to be named. Julie CONTROVERSIAL seat-only operator Kiss Flights, relinquish its Atol.
Franklin, commercial and membership manager run by ex-directors of collapsed XL Travel Group- Kiss Flights boss Paul Moss denied the plan was
of Elite Travel Group, said: “We are proud to owned Freedom Flights, was sold this week. to grow Kiss to the size of Freedom Flights, but
welcome these members into our consortium.” Kiss owner Meridian Aviation sold the fledgling said: “It will be good for Kiss to be associated with
business to Flight Options, a sports tour operator a reputable, established UK tour operator with a
■ Hurtigruten near to securing $45m issue and dynamic packager, based in London, for an view to providing a quality, reliable seat-only
Specialist Norwegian cruise line Hurtigruten is undisclosed sum. distribution channel to the UK trade.”
hoping to have a $45 million share issue agreed Those involved said it will allow “controlled and Kiss plans to operate only from Manchester
after failing to secure creditor consent. The profitable expansion” of Kiss to fill the gap left by and Gatwick this year, but Moss hinted other UK
operator is in talks with the Norwegian Thomas Cook and Tui’s capac- airports and destinations
government about the agreement under which ity cuts and the demise of XL.
Kiss Flights sale
would be added for 2010.
it operates a ferry service involving 11 ships Former Freedom Flight He added that agent sup-
sailing 365 days a year and is loss-making. directors Paul Moss and ■ Meridian Aviation has sold the port since Kiss’s launch had
Michael Smith, who run Kiss Kiss Flights brand, domain name been “superb”, with bookings
■ Sunvil revamps
Travelwhere.co.uk Flights, will transfer with the and bookings to Flight Options. “ahead of expectations”.
Travelwhere, the map-based online brochure and business, which moves into ■ 15-year-old Flight Options has Flight Options chief oper-
holiday search site, has been relaunched following new premises in Crawley. its own 50,000-passenger Atol. ating officer Miles Saward
investment from independent operator Sunvil They are expected to be ■ As part of the deal, Flight said: “We drifted out of seat-
Holidays. Ian Champness, founder of Travelwhere, joint general managers of Options has signed a three-year only because the market
said the revamped site aimed to become a Kiss and not directors of broking deal with Meridian to was saturated with the big
leading affiliate marketing partner of operators, Flight Options. supply all the operator’s flying four, XL and other players
offering them a low-cost alternative for Meridian managing direc- commitments, some with Viking around the turn of the
distribution and marketing. Champness said tor Jim Wyatt, brother of Airlines, for which Meridian is millennium. But now we see
forecasts suggested that within two years, XL Leisure Group’s former the global general sales agent. an opportunity.
20% of all travel bookings could be introduced chief executive Phil, said: ■ Flight Options is backed by Joe “We will have more air-
through affiliate partners. “I’d rather move Meridian Dwek through Penmarric Ltd. craft and more capacity. And
back to a flight brokerage He is understood to be one of while the seat-only will be
■ Worldchoice/TTA sign deal with Jet2 company. There is a real mar- the UK’s wealthiest men and a aimed at the trade, we’ll use
Worldchoice and the Travel Trust Association have ket for doing deals on aero- relative of the operator’s man- part of the Kiss brand to
agreed a deal with
Jet2.com andJet2holidays.com planes and selling off seats. aging director Gary Ash. enhance our opportunities
to boost its regional flight options. The deal will Wyatt said he had not ■ Meridian has relinquished its in the DIY market. This will
allow agents to earn commission on Atol-bonded “touted Kiss Flights around” Atol, which the CAA is expected let us to develop a Kiss Holi-
Jet2holidays and charge booking fees or mark-ups but approached Flight to formally revoke today (Friday). days brand for consumers.”
on Jet2 flight sales. Meanwhile, Jet2holidays has Options, which had its own ■ Moss has written to trade part- Saward said Flight
produced its first brochure, featuring Croatia, thriving seat-only business ners. See
ttglive.com/kisssale Options’ financial backer
Turkey, Spain, Greece and Egypt. The TTA also in the mid-1990s. should reassure Kiss critics.
said it was close to clinching two acquisitions to
strengthen its position.
SHELF LIFE: Tui Travel
■ Tui Travels expands office space in Luton bosses went back to
Thomson and First Choice have increased the the floor last weekend
capacity of their Luton head office to offer to taste life on the
improved facilities for staff. The new ground frontline. Pictured is
floor includes a computer and phone-free quiet Tim Williamson, Tui’s
zone for staff and more areas so employees customer director,
working in different areas of the business can getting to grips with
get together for informal chats and discussions. brochures at
Thomson’s Brighton
ttglive.com
For the latest news, reviews and comment
store on London Road
from the travel industry, visit
ttglive.com
23.01.09 05
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84