p9 News feb20 18/2/09 18:22 Page 9
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In brief
Costa defends air pact
■ Triple whammy of promotions at Mundy
Mundy Cruising has promoted three members
Kay McLellan.
Costa’s UK managing director, Marco Rosa,
of staff to the position of associate director in COSTA Cruises has insisted an exclusive three- stressed agents would not be undercut, with
recognition of their contribution to the business. year partnership with Ryanair to sell cruises Ryanair being given the same offers on a
They are Jamie Loizou, sales and marketing through its site will not harm trade relationships. rotational basis as other travel partners.
director, Caroline Jenkins, head of accounts and The deal with the notoriously anti-trade “This is different product, for people focused
Sophie Higgins, sales and marketing director at no-frills carrier is aimed at attracting on using the internet and getting the best price,”
The Cruise Portfolio. new-to-cruise customers to Costa. he said. “We don’t want to move the typical
Lol Nichols, general sales manager for Fred passenger who will still book with agents.
■ Self-catering market boosted by recession Olsen Cruise Lines, said he understood the “We have noticed for short-haul and
Responsibletravel.com has seen an 81% year-on- move but doubted other lines would follow suit. Mediterranean bookings, the number of people
year increase in enquiries for group self-catering “I’m a little surprised given Ryanair’s booking packages has fallen. Nearly 40% of
accommodation. Co-founder Justin Francis said: customer service when things go wrong. customers book cruise-only for the Med.”
“Clubbing together for a group holiday can be a “Cruising is supposed to offer exceptional Customers will have to pay Ryanair’s bag-
great money-saving solution, particularly for value, but it’s not a no-frills product. Plus, there gage charges and arrange their own transfers.
those with young children. You'll also save money are other restrictions such as luggage limits. Rosa said he did not believe the carrier’s
on food and can share the cooking.” “I can see why they are doing it because Costa baggage policies would be an issue, as the
has huge ships with huge capacity and they have majority of its Mediterranean cruises were just
■ Pata to host networking event in London to find a way of getting customers to them.” seven nights long.
The leading names in Asia-Pacific’s tourism in- Costa, a Carnival-owned line, has three new Ryanair customers are being offered £100
dustry will gather in London on March 16 for a ships due to launch in the next 12 months and onboard credit until March 16.
networking event organised by the Pacific Asia hopes to carry 1.5 million passengers in 2010,
Travel Association (pataexchange.com). The “Pata up from 1.2 million in 2008. ■ Cruise news, p20
Exchange” will take place at Australia House and
is free to UK agents and industry buyers.
CAA sets Whitehall
less than 40 customers were in the Caribbean
■ Luxury agency immune to credit crisis and none of them were stranded or cricket fans.
Sales at Holidaysplease in the first seven weeks In an update issued on Wednesday, a CAA
of 2008 were 38% up on the same period last
record straight
spokesman said: “The CAA understands 94
year. The luxury travel agency is looking to create customers of Whitehall Leisure were abroad
new jobs by expanding its in-house sales team by THE CAA has confirmed that 94 holidaymakers when the company failed. There are about 800
20 people by the end of 2009. were abroad when Caribbean specialist White- customers who have a forward booking.”
hall Leisure collapsed. Whitehall Leisure’s managing director,
■ Flybe has London Fashion Week all sewn up The association also said all customers were Norman Auld, said there were a number of
Flybe has reported strong sales on its domestic booked on scheduled flights ensuring their factors behind the company’s collapse.
routes to the capital during London Fashion return to the UK, contrary to early indications. “Due to a continued difficult market place, a
Week, which is being held from February 20–26. The authority had said it was starting weak pound, large losses from the collapse of
The airline now offers up to 64 domestic flights arrangements to repatriate customers, Xl Airways and others, and being forced on a
into London every week including new routes estimated in the low hundreds, most of whom 42-day deferment by our credit card supplier
from Aberdeen, Newcastle and Newquay. were following the England cricket team. we could no longer continue to finance the
However, Whitehall refuted this. It said that company,” he said.
■ Triton raises money for Red Nose appeal
The Triton Rooms Red Nose Day appeal has
started – every booking made through the bed-
bank will result in 50p going to charity. And every
agency which makes a booking of more than
£200 before March 13 will be entered into a draw
for a place on a fam trip to an exotic location.
■ Cadogan drops prices by 5% for March
Cadogan is giving a 5% discount on all bookings
for holidays departing in February and March.
The operators reservations team is also open on
Sundays from 10am to 4pm until March 1.
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RED DEVILS TAKE FLIGHT: Manchester United players and manager Sir Alex Ferguson
from the travel industry, visit ttglive.com flew with Air Malta to visit the island’s Man U supporters’ club, which turns 50 this year.
20.02.2009 09
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