p4 news feb20 18/2/09 21:02 Page 4
news
20.02.2009
Allbury buys back C
O
STO
VER
20% XL holding
R
Agents riled by
Y
ALLBURY Travel Group has bought the 20%
shareholding in the group that was previously
undercutting
owned by XL Leisure Group.
Allbury, whose brands include Libra Holidays
TTG reporters.
staff found a customer
and Argo Holidays, made the acquisition from XL AGENTS are being hit a Sharm el Sheikh
administrators Zolfo Cooper for a small sum. by bigger and more Libra holiday – only for
Michael East, Allbury chairman, said: “The widespread online un- the client to book di-
agreement settles all remaining outstanding dercutting as increas- rect on Libra’s website
financial matters between the two companies.” ingly late bookings because it was nearly
He said winter trading was in line with fore- push operators to £200 cheaper.
casts, with volumes slightly down but selling slash direct prices to Giles wants Libra to
prices up year-on-year. He added that the sum- move distressed stock. pay the commission
mer period appeared to be booking later, in line The trend provoked because it would not
with the rest of the industry, but demand had been Bath agency World have had the booking
strengthening in recent weeks, as had prices. Market Travel to act without the agency.
taking Libra Holidays A Libra spokes-
off sale this week after woman admitted it had
it lost a booking be- offered a discount
cause it could not higher than agencies’
match a 14% discount. commission on the
Owner Tim Giles World Market Travel agent Jayne Angell helps owners Peter holiday but said it was
warned that online and Tim Giles ditch Libra’s brochures in the recycling a one-off occurrence
discounting would get on particulalry dis-
worse because operators were at “panic sta- tressed stock, and they normally try to price match.
Travel 2 reveals
tions” as economic uncertainty meant more cus- Libra were investigating price matching in this
tomers were booking close to departure. case when they heard the client had booked
He was backed by Douglas McCarthy, manag- direct.
new sales line-up
ing director of Bathgate-based Bill McCarthy Other agents have reported being undercut
Travel, who said: “We're witnessing a widespread online. Katie Hanson, manager of Wetherby
TRAVEL 2 has unveiled a new sales team led by culture of operators undercutting and some Travel, lost a customer to a Virgin Holidays
recently appointed sales director Andy Freeth. bigger agents discounting prices. The smaller online discount of 10%.
Colin Currie, formerly head of sales at Holiday guys are being shafted.”
Brokers, will cover Scotland and the north-east, Giles’s dispute with Libra broke out after his ■ Can’t compete with Cook online: Letters, p34
Gemma Pinder will cover north Wales and North-
ern Ireland, Craig Palmer, London and the south-
east, Sarah Jane Bennett, west London and the
Low deposits fuel
not have the cash for the balance, and others
west home counties; and Kerry Ann Markham, decided to write off the deposit hoping a drop in
the south-west, the Midlands and Wales.
cancellation fear
sales forced operators to lower prices.
Freeth said: “As a trade-only business, agents “Some can’t afford it and some believe cheaper
are integral to Travel 2’s success. I will be making AGENTS are fearing a rise in cancellations this holidays will become available,” she said.
it my priority to establish the needs of our agent spring as customers write off the low deposits As somewhere2stay dropped deposits to £10,
partners and make sure we are delivering each offered to encourage early bookings. Stuart Jackson, commercial director of parent
day in return for their support.” The Designer Travel agency had a cancellation Cosmos, said lower deposits do lead to more can-
on four out five days last week, more than the cellations. Cosmos and Tui both said cancella-
■ Agents have until February 28 to enter total since the business started last spring. tions were not up but that balances were not yet
Travel 2’s Hong Kong fam trip competition. Managing director Amanda Matthews said the due. Thomas Cook also said cancellations had
For details, see
ttglive.com/hongkongfam economic downturn meant some customers did not risen.
04 20.02.2009
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