p6 news feb27 25/2/09 19:03 Page 6
news
ttglive.com
Domestic boom
for Aito agents
BOOKINGS through Aito specialist agents for
domestic holidays have more than doubled in the
last year.
Aito specialist agents chairman Barry Moxley
said the value of domestic bookings had risen
from about 5% to 10% and the number of book-
ings was up even more.
Moxley said the rise was partly down to the
group putting more effort into selling UK holi-
days than in previous years, when members
tended to concentrate on higher margin holidays.
“Maybe we got a bit lazy in the good years
V
IT
because the rewards are not quite as big, but
there will be more people buying UK holidays this
The colour of money
year for economic reasons so we need to give it
more attention,” he said.
Moxley added that his division had started
training in UK products for members, which it
hoped to expand.
Mike Lane.
in cheque cashing and pawnbrokers, such as
A PROVIDER of foreign exchange to independent Cheque Centres and Cash Generator, but it also
agents is planning a massive expansion to take works with independent Scottish agent Barrhead Aito pushes school holiday deals: Aito has
on Thomas Cook and Tui Travel. Travel. revamped its website to highlight special
No1 Currency wants to work with more agents, Bill Munro, the Glasgow agency’s founder, said offers available in school holidays to counter
as well as high-street traders in other sectors, Barrhead chose to work with No1 because it of- claims that few deals are available outside of
to meet its target of expanding its number of fered the lowest rates. term time.
in-store bureaux from 293 to 500 by March He said bigger travel agents offering foreign The organisa-
2010. currency were struggling to compete with other tion made the
Managing director Mark McElney said the likes non-travel big-name brands such as Tesco and move after
of Cook and Tui have “had it too good for too Marks & Spencer. meeting officials
long” and lower margins and overheads meant Although adding foreign currency services from the De-
No1 could claim market share. could boost an agent’s footfall, Munro said that partment for
The importance of foreign exchange to many would not want to take on the security or Business, Enter-
Thomas Cook was underlined by the sponsorship insurance risks of having large amounts of cash prise and Regu-
of new ITV Saturday night prime-time show The on site. latory Reform
Colour of Money (pictured) by its forex division. He added: “It’s not going to make you rich. (Berr) which had
“Cook and Thomson have got big costs in their It might bring people to your door. asked for indus-
businesses,” said McElney. “They look to make a “It doesn’t suit all locations. But it’s worth all try views on
6% gross margin and we’re down at 1.25%.” independent agents having a look and making a claims that
No1 currently has the majority of its bureaux decision on it.” prices are ramped up during school holidays.
Aito chairman Derek Moore said he told Berr,
which asked for the meeting, that deals were
Connections staff
about 20 people in Gatwick, who are now in a available but customers did not always know
redundancy consultation process. where to look for them.
face redundancy
Connections’ Elegant River Cruise brand will Aito decided to change its website to make
remain at the Gatwick offices. the deals more visible, but had heard no more
Martin Coe, Titan's managing director, said: “It
from the government.
TITAN Travel is to merge the operations of Con-
has been a difficult decision but the two compa-
“The irony is that it was Berr which said it
nections, its independent travel division based
nies have many synergies and locating both in the
wanted to talk about it. It’s interesting that we
near Gatwick, with Tailor Made Travel, its other
same office enables us to take advantage of these.
have not heard much from them about it since,”
independent division. “Connections is 100% committed to selling he said.
The division will now operate out of Tailor through the trade,” he added. “The group trade Abta also offers members facilities to
Made’s offices in Evesham, Worcestershire. The relations and support team of Shane Fortey and highlight their school holiday deals. See the
relocation will take effect on March 1. Craig Liddle will continue to provide ongoing Travel Offers section of abta.com
Connections is understood to have employed support to all trade partners and agents.”
06 27.02.2009
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