p34-35 letters 27/1/09 17:40 Page 34
Your letters
Dickson’s mystery shopping
paints an unfair sales picture
I fail to sympathise with Andrew Dickson’s
experiences with his so-called “lack of selling”
(TTG January 23).
‘Rip-off’ fuel fees
I am a proud member of Spa Travel, which
has been in our village for 30 years.
Although I may be a shy age of 19, my
colleagues and myself pride ourselves on our
quality of service, experience and knowledge.
must be dropped
So to those mystery shoppers who walk into
a shop for five minutes and then blast these
comments to everyone in the industry, I say one
thing: come work with us for one day and see LET
what quality of service really is all about. OIL last week was at $44 a
OF THE
TER
more help – but that would mean
barrel, the dollar at £1.37. all agents benefiting, so that will
Rebecca Eady, Spa Travel, Boston Spa Yet companies are still adding
WEEK
never happen, will it?
fuel surcharges. Perhaps the government needs to
Be savvy and frugal – but The reason cited in the past – the look into this.
don’t give up having fun strength of the dollar – now holds no Look what happened to BA and Virgin.
The announcement the country has officially strength with the recent record plummet. They faced massive fines for price-fixing the
entered a recession came as little surprise. In But I am sure there will be another excuse – fuel surcharges and have had to refund
these tough times, Brits want to stretch their sorry, another reason. customers.
pounds without sacrificing holidays. How stupid do the holiday companies and Who travelled with them? Who is to say
Despite the financial strain, the nation needs the airlines think the public is? that this could not happen to others if they
to escape. Apart from recharging batteries, there Not that I would justify these charges, but are unable to justify the fuel surcharges that
are long-term health benefits to taking a holiday. it is even more irritating that the tour are levied at the moment when oil and the
There are numerous ways to cut holiday operators do not pay travel agents any dollar are so low.
costs: time it right, visit destinations where commission on these items. They are quick to add them when both or
you’ll get the best value, shop the best airline To be blunt, they are just happy to “rip off” even one factor is working against them.
sales, and learn how to find the best deals. the holidaymaker.
Be savvy and frugal, without giving up the fun. In this current economic climate, instead of Allan Ashford.
operators offering stupid discounts, perhaps managing director,
Francesca Ecsery general manager, Cheapflights the withdrawal of these charges would be of Meadway Travel, Tilehurst, Berkshire
TTG MAGAZINES HOW TO CONTACT US
travel trade gazette
Adam Coulter ttgbusiness editor 020 7921 8007 Address TTG, First Floor, Ludgate House, 245 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 9UY
April Hutchinson ttgluxury editor 020 7921 8541
alhutchinson@ttgluxury.com Email Initial followed by
surname@ttglive.com eg
lhuxley@ttglive.com
uk & ireland edition
Jasveer Mehay art editor 020 7921 8430 (except for those listed)
Issue 2851
Letters
ttgletters@ttglive.com Website
www.ttglive.com
COMMERCIAL
Features and Supplements 2009 List
ttgfeatures@ttglive.com
Fax Editorial 020 7921 8032/8033 Advertising 020 7921 8034
EDITORIAL
Deborah Dewe sales director 020 7921 8025
Jamison Nesbitt sponsorship sales director 020 7921 8457
ISDN 020 7401 6993; 020 7401 6994
Lucy Huxley editor 020 7921 8008
Sheryl Makin advertising manager 020 7921 8023
Craig McQuinn recruitment manager 020 7921 8019 SUBSCRIPTIONS
NEWS Emma Barnes business development manager 020 7921 8508 To subscribe, renew or check on non-delivery of your copy of TTG, call
Lee Hayhurst news editor (cruise) 020 7921 8156
Robert Gray ttgbusiness sales manager 020 7921 8044 020 8950 9117 or email
ttg@alliance-media.co.uk
Chris Gray deputy news editor (aviation) 020 7921 8003
Lisa Merrigan account manager 020 7921 8709
Martin Ferguson reporter (business travel) 020 7921 8011
Ricky Wilkes account manager 020 7921 8195 Travel Trade Gazette is registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.
maferguson@ttgbusiness.com
Eric Findlay senior account manager 020 7921 8022 Printed by Polestar Colchester Ltd. ISSN 0262-4397
Rupert Murray reporter (agents; hotels) 020 7921 8010
Vanessa Powell journal administrator 020 7921 8029
Kay McLellan reporter (operators; technology; car hire) 020 7955 3867
© UBM Live 2009
ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION
FEATURES AND SUPPLEMENTS Stephen Miller production manager 020 7921 8027
stephen.miller@ubm.com
Robin Searle features and supplements editor 020 7921 8001
Nicola Hembra production controller 020 7921 8332
nicola.hembra@ubm.com
Philippa Jacks deputy features editor 020 7921 8038
Mark Saunders digital production 020 7921 8386
mark.saunders@ubm.com
Olivia Hemmings features reporter 020 7921 8004
Katherine Lawrey supplements and training reporter 020 7921 8018 EVENTS
Emma Neil group events manager 020 7955 3752
TTGLIVE.COM Ellie Spreckley event co-ordinator 020 7955 3751 Subscription rate £130 a year in the UK and Ireland, $275 per year overseas. Single
Charlotte Walsh web editor 020 7921 8006
copies available at £2.42 in the UK and $6.50 overseas. Unsolicited material cannot
PUBLISHERS
be returned. While we take every care of photos and manuscripts submitted to TTG
(UK), we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage. The contents of TTG (UK)
EDITORIAL PRODUCTION Paula Martin publisher 020 7921 8026 are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems. Refunds
Michael Walsh group production editor 020 7921 8013
David Goulthorpe group director on cancelled subscriptions will be made at the publisher’s discretion, unless
Nick Bartolucci group head of design 020 7921 8014
specifically guaranteed in the terms of the subscription offer. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
Julian Cresswell art editor 020 7921 8016
means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, or recorded in informa-
Matthew Parsons deputy chief sub-editor 020 7921 8015 tion storage or retrieval systems without the prior written consent of the publisher.
Paul Revel sub-editor 020 7921 8017
34 30.01.2009
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