p4 news apr3 1/4/09 21:51 Page 4
news
03.04.2009
New Harvey owner
plans Abta return
Future Travel homeworkers said their Dubai Tourism/BA
Lee Hayhurst.
Arnott confirmed the Harvey World
fam trip last week was “very worthwhile for selling Dubai” THE NEW OWNER of the Harvey
C
O
Travel name would go and revealed
World Travel chain of stores is plan- he will consider reviving the original
Ban fam trips,
ning to renew its Abta membership
STO
VER
R
Y
Galaxy Travel and Lets Go brands
within months having secured a which many of the stores had before
deal to buy Harvey’s 58 shops. being bought. He could also reopen some
rants blogger
Blackpool-based Vacation Travel, which of the 30 Harvey World Travel stores that
has become one of the UK’s largest independent have closed due to poor trading.
agency chains through the deal, surrendered its Arnott said he was “excited” by the deal,
DUBAI Tourism has hit back at claims that Abta membership last year due to costs. Stuart although he added “the hard work starts here”.
fam trips should be banned because they are Arnott, managing director, said it had been a “I looked at it as an opportunity. Harvey World
unnecessary and unethical in a recession. “calculated risk” to leave Abta but revealed it was something of a thorn in the backside of
The organisation’s plans for a mega-fam of had wanted £1.2 million to bond his four shops. Stella,” he said.
2,000 agents were condemned by travel blogger He has just secured bonding for Harvey World Stella UK’s managing director, Andrew
Darren Cronian on his Travel Rants website. Travel’s 58 shops for just £2 million. Botterill, said: “This is about getting the correct
He said agents could learn about the Abta operates tight financial regulations, plac- structure for the UK and we have done that while
destination with a lower environmental impact ing a particular emphasis on the assets a busi- retaining the turnover of those stores.”
by watching video footage. ness has, regardless of turnover or profitability. Martin Morgan, owner of south-west-based
But Dubai Tourism UK director Ian Scott said Vacation Travel is a member of Global Travel Travel House, said there was plenty of interest
agents needed to visit a destination to fully Group’s Independent Options, which the Harvey in the Harvey World Travel stores but he had
understand it by experiencing all aspects. World Travel stores will join. decided it was not for him.
Under the deal, finalised “Harvey World “It’s going to be interest-
■ Should fam trips be banned? Have your say, with Harvey World Travel
was something
ing to see how he [Arnott]
and comment on the story, at ttglive.com owner Stella Travel Services does. It’s a big, brave move.
UK on Tuesday, agreements of a thorn in It does show that people still
were made about continued believe in retail travel as do
Travel has key role,
the backside of
support of Stella’s long-haul the 25,000 people working
specialist Travel 2. Stella Travel” in travel agencies,” he said.
UN tells G20 heads
TRAVEL should be at the centre of the revival of
Allbury gets Atol thumbs-up
the global economy rather than be targeted by
environmental protesters, the UN World Tourism THE CAA has lifted Allbury Travel Group’s bonding They include Miss Ellie’s World Travel, which
Organisation said this week. requirement, prompting the firm to claim the has joined Freedom Travel and will use its Atol.
The WTO wrote to G20 tourism ministers as move was an endorsement of its financial strength. Freedom Direct Holidays was also on the list.
demonstrators descended on London, where Allbury was previously considered to require a Nearly 90 companies were on a list of firms
many of them protested against the industry’s bond as it was deemed to be a new firm, formed that had not renewed their Atol in time, includ-
contribution to global warming. after Libra’s UK business got into difficulties. ing The Travel Club, which bought Unpackaged.
But WTO pointed out that tourism provided Allbury is due to release a trading update that Travel Club director Tony Freudmann said it
6% of jobs in the G20 countries and helped would be “positive”, chairman Michael East said. was in negotiations about a tie-up with another
sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing, About 100 companies are on the list of firms group that would allow it to use the other party’s
which often depended on a demand for travel. that have not renewed their Atol. Atol and act as an agent.
04 03.04.2009
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