p2 Apr10 7/4/09 21:05 Page 2
Peter Long believes
that travel is stepping
news
out of the dark side
IN THE middle of my interview with Tui Travel chief
executive Peter Long last week, his mobile phone
went off and scared the life out of me. Instead of a
normal ringtone, Darth Vader’s voice boomed out.
I didn’t have Long down for novelty ringtones, I
have to say, but it was an amusing interlude to our
fairly serious discussion about the global economic
crisis and the outlook for travel.
this week
On reflection, it also seemed quite poignant, since
the central theme of Star Wars quite neatly summed
up his key point. Just as the main characters have a
fundamental choice to make between the dark and
light sides of the Force, so each of us must decide
how we cope with current conditions.
There’s no denying the situation for many is dire.
But Long insists that while he’s “not gung-ho”, he’s
feeling quietly confident, buoyed by a range of
positive indicators such as house price rises, higher
Mickey and the auction-ears
consumer confidence and a 20% increase in Mickey Mouse was joined by a host of celebrities at the launch of Mickey’s
disposable incomes over this time last year. And on Magical Party at Disneyland Resort Paris. Among those invited was EastEnders
top of this, all the research suggests consumers, and Game On star Samantha Janus who, along with her fellow celebs, designed
unless out of work, will not forgo their holidays. Mickey ears to be auctioned in May for Great Ormond Street hospital.
Talking to me on the first day of last week’s G20
summit, Long pointed out that world leaders weren’t New routes. Growth plans.
wallowing in the “darkness”, so nor was Tui – and nor ‘APD deters airlines’ p5 Holiday Team: low prices p10
should any travel business be. Liverpool airport claims the Southall Travel-owned flights and
He said companies should be thinking beyond government’s plans for increasing hotels consolidator The Holiday
reining back, concentrating instead on putting in Air Passenger Duty are costing it Team believes the time is right for
place long-term plans for recovery. the chance of a transatlantic link its big push into the mainstream
Tui has tightened its belt by implementing a pay holiday sector
freeze, of course, but it is also focusing on a five-year Compensation.
plan. This is built around flexibility, choice, unique CAA sorry for XL bungle p6 City & finance.
product, a wide range of specialist businesses, Agents and consumers joined ‘Technology hit profits’ p14
and enhanced brand and customer loyalty – forces this week to attack delays Low Cost Travel Group’s profits
an approach many could follow, albeit on a and lack of communication from this year were held down by a
smaller scale. And while he admits it might the CAA in handling XL Leisure shift to new technology, but chief
be tough out there, he’s sure the sooner Group compensation claims executive Paul Evans has made an
travel embraces the positives, the sooner upbeat assessment for the rest of
we’ll get back to better times. Fam trips. the year
It was only a couple of months ago I Stop fams? Blog off! p7 & p26
was quoting another industry leader Following last week’s anti-fam trip Hays Conference.
who described the situation as rant by a high-profile blogger, one ‘Boom’ for indie agents p18
“travel Armageddon”. Now, agent has demonstrated their value Hays Travel’s 130 Independence
Long believes we are not only by saying his bookings for Club Med Group members saw the value of
NOT slipping into a depression, rocketed by 6,000% after a fam their sales in March increase year-
but are coming out of the recession. on-year by 26%, delegates at the IG
Darth Vader famously says: “I find Cruise. conference in Birmingham heard
your lack of faith disturbing.” P&O defends Azura promo p9
Long would no doubt agree. P&O Cruises has hit back at SECTORS.
criticism of its trade marketing for Operators p20
new superliner Azura, for which Air p22
Lucy Huxley Editor it sold a fifth of 2010 capacity in Business travel p24
the ship’s first week on sale Letters p26
02 10.04.2009
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