7-9 TTGB NEWS 30/1/09 17:30 Page 8
news in brief
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AA offers upgrades via trade
American Airlines has made a new upgrade
promotion for travel to the US before Easter,
available only offline. The airline says it is
supporting UK travel agents by making the offer
available only through travel agents and its
reservations call centre. The offer gives customers
the chance of a free one-way upgrade from
business to first class. It is available until April 1.
BA’s new sales team:
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Hotel technology partnership
Travel technology company Amadeus and the leaner and stronger
Hotel Booking Agents’ Association are to work
together to develop hotel booking technology.
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British Airways has unveiled its new to maximise sales and to benefit both their
The pair have signed a “strategic partnership business travel trade sales team under the businesses and our own. We all need to work
agreement” which they say will help agents leadership of recently appointed UK and Ireland together in a more efficient and creative way to
who use a hotel booking agent. head of sales, Richard Tams. achieve results and drive sales.”
Scott Davies has been appointed sales BA said it continued to forecast a 4% year-on-
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SMEs slashing travel budgets manager for travel management company year increase in
Nearly 40% of small businesses in the UK will cut channels and will work alongside corporate sales revenue, and that
business travel and advertising budgets to managers Roger Burr and Bob Dowdell. passenger volumes
weather the economic downturn, according to a Elsewhere in the company, Ian Romanis has were in line with the
YouGov survey. The survey polled 500 small been appointed manager of global and rest of the market.
business owners and managers across the government sales, and Simon Brookes will be But it warned that
country. Some 37% said travel was top of manager of consumer sales. non-fuel costs were
their budget cuts list. The BA restructure comes after it revealed to expected to rise 8%
the City that last year’s record £900 million profit year-on-year compared
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German travellers downgrade was wiped out by the global financial crisis. The with previous guidance
German companies are tightening travel carrier says it will make a £150 million loss for of 5%.
budgets as the country dives into recession, the year, blaming the weak pound and sky-high Willie Walsh, BA’s
according to the German Business Travel oil prices for the demise. chief executive, has
Association. Nearly 25% of respondents to a Tams said: “The industry is facing its toughest said he expects the
survey by the group said their travel volumes time ever and we need to be able to adapt to recession to last for
“If you buy
remain unchanged from last year. More than market conditions. While many other airlines up to two years.
rail fares far
30% said non-essential trips were being axed have already gone out of business, we plan to He said declining
and alternatives to travel being sought. The come out of this recession leaner and stronger. consumer confidence,
enough in
research also found that trends in Germany are The customer is at the heart of our business and coupled with the advance you
in line with those in the UK: many travellers are everything we do must be to their benefit. collapse of credit,
can get
downgrading from premium to budget brands “This new structure will enable us to operate meant the recession
discounts up
while national airlines have published falling quickly and efficiently with no duplication. had “not reached the
passenger numbers. We will continue to work with the travel trade bottom yet”.
to 80%” p39
....Lifestyle: pocket-sized projector and camcorder, aromatherapy and hair care, p14.......
ttgbusiness.com❖ february/march 2009
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