p2 Contents Feb27 25/2/09 21:31 Page 2
How seriously should
we take pretenders
news
to Abta’s throne?
I DIDN’T realise it was “Get at Abta” week.
But whether deliberately or entirely coinciden-
tally, two separate challenges to the association have
emerged that could potentially undermine it.
Both Advantage and Worldchoice are offering
members an alternative to Abta membership, at
what they claim are lower prices for equal if not
greater cover.
this week
Some would argue Abta had it coming the minute
it watered down its once 100% “consumer protec-
tion promise”, upon which it had built its reputation.
Agents’ objections were relatively muted at the
time, probably because consumers remained largely
oblivious to the change.
However, a far bigger outcry came last year when
Abta hiked its membership fees and many agents
threatened to walk.
But with few alternatives other than joining a Chef sets sail with Silversea
franchise or trust scheme available, they were fairly Renowned chef Anton Mosimann hosted a Silversea event in London last week
empty threats. to promote the line’s culinary and wine cruises. He will sail on Silver Wind
A mass exodus from Abta would seriously in October. Mosimann is pictured with Trudy Redfern, Silversea senior vice-
threaten the association – but for the consortia to president and Rudi Scholdis, Silversea culinary director. Cruise News, p22
take on the financial protection role Abta has oper-
ated for the last 50 years is also a pretty big risk. Booking trends. Crime.
For starters, Advantage and Worldchoice need to Egypt and Turkey sales up p4 Clampdown on fraud p12
beware they don’t end up attracting only the “lame Latest industry figures released by An anti-fraud group for the travel
ducks” which don’t meet Abta’s criteria. Secondly, Ascent MI for January have shown industry, called PROFiT, has been
if they are going to underwrite their exposure to sales for Egypt and Turkey for both launched to tackle the estimated
all operators, they’ll need to ensure they have winter and summer are surging 400,000 British holidaymakers hit
the funds to back that up – or else they may find as the general market declines by travel scams each year – and
themselves having to go back cap-in-hand to mem- scores of companies have already
bers, charging a levy. Foreign exchange. pledged their allegiance
One Abta board member immediately No1 Currency enters arena p6
urged the association to “act quickly to blow A provider of in-store foreign Recession.
these hare-brained schemes out of the exchange bureaux has said it Holidaybreak axes jobs p16
water”. wants to work with more agents as Job losses at Holidaybreak and
But it has chosen instead to just it looks to take on market leaders Explore! are among the £2 million
“reinforce its member value campaign”, Thomas Cook and Tui Travel worth of cuts made by parent
rather than launch a PR offensive. It be- company Holidaybreak to combat
lieves a cost comparison between the Undercutting. the economic downturn
rival schemes and its own (taking Operators reassure agents p7
into account all its other benefits), Thomas Cook and Libra have reas- Cruise.
will be enough to ensure mem- sured agents about online under- New player in UK market p24
bers’ heads aren’t turned. cutting after they came under fire New niche cruise aggregator
Abta has always been an for offering “unmatchable” prices EWaterways has launched to
easy target for whingers, but few have the trade in the UK
ever taken concerted action – until Astraeus.
now. It would be a mistake not to Rocking all over the world p9
take them seriously. Iron Maiden singer Bruce SECTORS.
Dickinson, who is a pilot for Cruise p22
Astraeus, is flying the band on a Operators p26
Lucy Huxley Editor world tour onboard one of the Hotels & resorts p28
carrier’s Boeings Air p30
02 27.02.2009
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