p5 news feb13 11/2/09 21:15 Page 5
ttglive.com
news
In brief
■ Travel Republic court hearing is delayed
Put summer 2010
The CAA’s criminal prosecution against online
agent Travel Republic and its managing director
Kane Pirie has been adjourned to March 11.
The case was due to be heard at Westminster
Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.
brochures on hold
■ Valentine’s removal date for Abta and FTO
Abta and the FTO will spend the Valentine’s
weekend moving in together. The merged organi-
Lucy Huxley.
year yet. We would support any call to
sation will take up residence from Monday in a TWO OF travel’s biggest hitters have
C
delay it.”
new shared office near London Bridge. The new called for a delay to the launch of
O
Blastland said a delay would also
switchboard number is 020 3117 0500. More de- summer 2010 programmes until July
STO
VER
R
give more clarity over currency and
tails available in the members’ area of
abta.com. in light of the economic downturn.
Y
pricing. “The pound has had a rough
Dermot Blastland and Mike ride but it’s currently strengthening and
■ Iata backtrack over ‘unacceptable’ charges Greenacre believe postponing launches has moved considerably in the last three
Atba has told Iata that increases in its charges from the traditional period of late April/early weeks. So the longer we leave the launch of 2010,
for agents registering changes to their business May would allow the industry to focus on selling the clearer the environment will be.”
are “unacceptable”, particularly in a recession. more 2009 holidays, amid reports that January Blastland also highlighted the cost-savings
Abta trade relations manager Susan Parsons sales are on average 15% down. all operators could make by launching later and
said Iata had accepted it did not properly inform Blastland, Tui Travel UK & Ireland managing di- saving on brochure printing and distribution
agents about the changes, and promised to find rector, said July 2 would be a better launch date. costs because there would be two rather than
out how many agents were affected. “With this current economic decline, consumers three 2010 editions.
Read the full story on
ttglive.com are holding back on booking, so why on earth David Mortimer, chairman of the Association
would you want to launch next year so early?” of Atol Companies said the idea was “eminently
■ Paula Lacey takes up Tui Travel aviation role Greenacre, The Co-operative Travel’s manag- sensible” but it was unlikely the industry would
Paula Lacey, former trading director at TV Travel ing director, added: “I’ve always said that launch- act together on it.
Shop and head of the south region for Thomas ing in April or May is nuts, but particularly so in “Everyone knows it’s sensible but whether
Cook Retail, has been appointed as aviation this financial climate. We would much prefer to they are prepared to do it is another question.
commercial director for Tui Travel’s activity concentrate our efforts on summer 2009 lates. No one wants to show their hand first. And those
sector, run by John Wimbleton. The division “With average prices higher and capacity who don’t think it’s in their commercial interest
covers Tui’s adventure, ski, schools, sport and reduced, demand is still greater than supply; it’s will not do it,” he said.
marine divisions and has businesses worldwide. just people are leaving their decision until later.
“It would be a distraction to have summer ■ What do you think? Should the industry
ttglive.com
For the latest news, reviews and comment 2010 in the frame. Consumers just won’t be delay the launch of summer 2010? Let us
from the travel industry, visit
ttglive.com
interested as most won’t even have booked this know by emailing
ttgletters@ttglive.com
vid
Images: Simeon Da
STRICTLY WINNING The search by TTG, Princess Cruises and Ace to discover UK travel’s dance star is down to six agents! The semi-finalists
are: Virginia Hunt of Premier Travel Agency, Laura Wright of Affinion Travel, Danny Akhtar of American Express Business Travel, Nicola Birch
of Madison Travel, Sandra Brown of Voyana Cruise and Alwyn Rogers of Carlson Wagonlit Travel. The final takes place at the Ace UK Cruise
Convention in Dover in June. There are more pictures from our fabulous, celebrity-filled Strictly show night at Wembley Arena on p23.
13.02.2009 05
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