p28-29 letters Apr17 14/4/09 17:58 Page 45
ttglive.com
letters
Cook’s on-trial rep Richard Anatolian Sky not ‘first’ with Insurance is vital – even
was a very thorough worker the Greece/Turkey combo for holidays in the UK
I am writing in response to your coverage of the It was interesting to read your article about I read with interest the figures put out recently
Thomas Cook reps facing trial in Corfu (TTG Anatolian Sky’s new Greece & Turkey by VisitBritain that one in five Brits are
April 3). Up until last week I was an overseas programme (TTG April 10). considering holidaying at home in 2009.
rep with Thomas Cook, and I had worked with Akin Koc, Anatolian Sky’s managing director, As the credit crunch continues to impact
Richard Carson in the Dominican Republic. I am claims the company is offering a “first” with our disposable income, it is unsurprising
also a mother of a toddler. tours (actually, gulet cruises) which include consumers are increasingly looking at the
My heart aches for any parent who has both Turkey and Greece. range of great break options we have on our
suffered a loss of a child, and while we all Just to set the record straight: I was with own doorstep.
look for someone/something to blame in order Small World back in the 1980s when we added However, I would encourage everyone
that we can maybe come to terms with things this holiday to our programme; and, more involved in the domestic tourism industry
a little more, we must be realistic and recently, Travel One has very successfully to encourage their customers to take out
understand that these two Cook employees are featured exactly the same holiday in our travel insurance to protect their “staycations”
not to blame. singles brochure. (to coin a phrase).
I consider myself to be, and have been told An excellent holiday, Akin, but not a “first”. Recent research we undertook showed
by many other Cook members of staff, that I am that nearly 80% of Brits are not taking out
over the top and cross every I and dot every T John Phillips insurance to protect their domestic holidays,
in my job; that is because I am very aware of director, Travel One, London even though they could lose 100% of the cost
the importance of being thorough. of their holiday if it is cancelled due to illness
The day I met Richard and realised how he Paris hotel sector must not or redundancy.
worked I was so glad he was in resort – he was forget the UK travel trade The message we are giving consumers,
way more thorough than me. He is a credit to Interesting to read it takes only a 10% drop in whether they book direct with us, or through
his title, his family and to anyone that has had sales to prompt hotel managers to rip up their our industry partners using our white-label
the pleasure of knowing him. fully inclusive tour rate contracts – and years of Trade-Routes solution, is “can you afford not to
It is such a shame that someone who is so loyalty from agents – and start selling direct to protect your holiday this summer?”
thorough and cautious should be blamed for this the public at rates that bypass inbound opera- We call on all in the UK travel trade to pass
tragic incident. My heart goes out also to Nicola tors, foreign wholesale operators, retailers on this message, whatever sort of holiday is
Gibson who, let’s face it, is hardly an engineer – and bed banks (“Paris tourist sector ‘faces booked.
nor does she need to be in her job role. catastrophe’” on ttglive.com).
It shows how fickle the market is. One Martin Rothwell, managing partner,
Amanda Amass wonders what arguments they will come up World First Travel Insurance,
former Thomas Cook rep with when they need the travel agent trade Honiton, Devon
again next year.
Facebook group for Corfu I also wonder if these people know that
What do you think?
reps needs trade’s support a lateral rate war between hotels is similar to
As a former overseas rep for Thomas Cook, and what airlines have been doing, and is only The deadline for letters is 10am on Tuesday.
a friend of one of the two reps facing trial over going to end up in more hotels going into We need your name, job title and company
the deaths in Corfu, I felt compelled to start the the red. address. These will be withheld on request.
Support Richard Carson and Nicola Gibson Hotels must learn they cannot live without Priority is given to letters sent exclusively
Facebook group – http://tinyurl.com/c4d26w – travel agents, and that betraying them has a to TTG. Please limit letters to 250 words
which has 1,400 members. high cost in the long run. maximum. We reserve the right to edit.
Most members are reps, but this affects the The internet is not a cure-all panacea, as Email: ttgletters@ttglive.com
whole industry and I urge all TTG readers to they seem to believe. Fax: 020 7921 8033
join the group and show their support. Blog: Or why not have your say online?
Michael Poots Write a blog at yourspace-ttglive.com
Emma Baxter, former Thomas Cook rep president, Cienitours
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