p7 news feb27 25/2/09 18:54 Page 7
ttglive.com
news
In brief
Cook and Libra reassure agents
Chris Gray.
“Maybe, as an industry, we need to look at
■ Silversea reroutes ship after rebel attacks THOMAS Cook and Libra have reassured agents working more effectively with our business part-
Silversea rerouted an Indian Ocean cruise on Silver about online undercutting after they came under ners to help them deal with distressed stock,”
Wind ahead of last week’s attack on Colombo air- fire for offering “unmatchable” web prices. she said.
port. Two people were killed and 45 injured in the Cook’s commercial relations director, Marc Ben- Meanwhile, independent wholesaler Jetset’s
attack last Friday. A statement given to passengers nett, said he wanted to give agents access to the chairman John Bond claimed rivals Gold Medal
the previous day read: “For precautionary meas- best possible prices, and would not follow a pol- and Travel 2 now competed with agents through
ures, due to an increase in political unrest in Sri icy that “significantly undercuts” the high street. associated retail chains.
Lanka, we are cancelling our call in Colombo.” Libra chief executive Eamonn Ferrin said the Cook now owns 50% of Gold Medal and Travel
operator would always offer to review pricing if 2 is owned by Harvey World Travel and Global
■ Ryanair to offer only online check-in from 2010 an agent could not compete. He added that Libra Travel Group parent Stella Travel Services UK.
Ryanair is to close all its airport check-in desks by would be able to offer a price match, to pre- However, Gold Medal head of sales Lee Marshall
the end of next year. The Irish airline is moving to ferred partners, in most cases. said it had “absolute commitment” to agents, as
100% online check-in in a bid to cut costs. The The two operators defended their stance after illustrated in its growing sales team and agree-
airline would not confirm how many staff will be Bath-based World Market Travel threatened to ments with Advantage and Worldchoice/TTA.
made redundant as a result of the change. Bag- stop selling Libra because it had been undercut on-
gage-handlers at bag-drop desks will be retained. line, and a Thomson agent wrote to TTG complain-
ing about Cook’s undercutting (TTG February 20).
Angry indies TTG’s inbox was flooded by
your responses to last week’s “Letter of the
■ Tui Travel unveils regional restructure Advantage commercial director Julia Lo Bue-
Week” by Thomson agent Wayne Fysh, who
Tui Travel has restructured to improve customer Said called on operators and agents to find a bet-
complained at being under undercut online by
service in its 850 high street shops and offer new ter way of selling “distressed stock” other than
rival company Thomas Cook. See Letters, p34
career paths for staff. Tui has reorganised its slashing prices online.
retail network from 29 regions into 32, which
means First Choice and Thomson will have stores
in every region for the first time. New deputy
regional sales manager roles will be created as
Introducing the brand new Rewards Programme:
well as a “retail career ladder”, enabling staff to
SANDALS LUXURY INCLUDED STARS!
identify available positions.
ANNOUNCING “Sandals Luxury Included Stars”, the out from your Business Development Manager what else you
■ Olympics boost Travel 2’s Hong Kong sales brand new travel agent rewards programme, replacing need to do as you become Concierge and Butler Stars.
Travel 2 has reported a rise in bookings to Hong
Certified Sandals Specialist. There are still 3 levels to the new The Sandals Luxury Included Stars programme will run on a
programme, these are: Deluxe; Concierge; and Butler, and yearly basis from January to December. Similar to Sell & Go,
Kong, with room-night sales in 2008 12% up on
these levels will run at an individual agent level as well as at with each booking you make, you earn the number of Stars
2007. The long-haul specialist said Hong Kong
shop level. shown to the side.
was now outperforming more established rivals
Meaning you get double the rewards!
For further information please
in the region such as Bangkok, off the back of the To start reaping the rewards from Sandals Luxury Included contact your Business Development Manager,
Beijing Olympics. Any agent booking a Cathay
Stars IT COULDN’T BE EASIER! All you have to do is
call Agency Sales on 020 7590 0210,
complete both Sandals and Beaches online training annually
email on agencysales@sandals.co.uk
Pacific flight or two nights’ accommodation in
and register all your bookings at www.sellingsandals.co.uk. Find
or visit www.sellingsandals.co.uk
Hong Kong with Travel 2 by February 28 can win
a place on the operator’s Hong Kong fam trip.
See ttglive.com/hongkongfam for more details.
)NDULGE�YOURSELF�
WITH�REWARDS

■ Teleticket expands Scottish operation
Teleticket has appointed Sandra Watt as business �� 50�4/��
development manager in Scotland. Watt joins the
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Brighton-based flight consolidator from BAA Scot-
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land, where she held the post of airline relations
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manager within the business development team.
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■ Continental grows Scotland sales team
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Continental Airlines has recruited Tom Sneddon,
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previously an account manager with Travel 2, as
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area sales manager for its Scotland sales team.
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Emma Schrader has moved from the airline’s
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operations team to become a sales executive.
AND�MORE
ttglive.com
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