p2 contents May1 29/4/09 22:34 Page 2
Whether we print it,
or put it online, we
news
always break news
YOU MAY have read in another travel trade
publication last week that weekly print magazines
“can no longer deliver breaking news”.
It’s the kind of comment you might make if you’re
regularly beaten to the top scoops – but it was news
to us here at TTG.
We’re conscious of how the internet has changed
the media landscape, but we consistently break news
this week
in our print edition that gets delivered to your doors.
Take this issue, for example. Here you will read
about John McEwan’s bid to become the next
Abta president and about a challenge to Steven
Freudmann’s ITT board position.
We’ve also got the first interview with new Stella
boss Andrew Botterill, finally shedding light on his
strategy for the UK operation. And we’ve got market
Speakman calls for optimism
stats from intelligence firm GfK Ascent MI and OAG. Travel Counsellors chairman David Speakman told 500 of his agents to ignore
You won’t be able to read any of this content the economic doom and gloom and keep a positive outlook at three regional
anywhere except in TTG. mini-conferences throughout the UK this week. p12
And that’s on top of all the online news that we’ve
broken, as it happened, in the past seven days. Election. Interview.
Those of you who have signed up for ttglive email McEwan tipped for Abta p4 Botterill sets out strategy p9
alerts would have been the first to know about Free- Advantage boss John McEwan has With a new management team in
dom Direct’s collapse, its acquisition by Hays Travel, emerged as a front-runner for the place, Andrew Botterill, the boss
the suspension of Travelzest boss Chris Mottershead Abta presidency, but his candidacy of Travel 2 parent Stella, explains
and the CAA’s plan to increase the APC levy to £3. could force a first-ever election for why business relations, and well-
In short, we’ve got it covered, whether in print or the post known faces, are key to success
online. And more to the point, now that our rival has
waved the white flag, making us the industry’s APC. Market Monitor.
only trade weekly newspaper, we are even more Levy ‘must be trebled’ p5 Late bookings on horizon p10
committed to delivering you the stories that matter The trust that refunds and Analysis of the latest market data
– in the format you want. repatriates customers after failures to offer an unrivalled snapshot of
It was only last year that we conducted will be bankrupt by October if the how the travel market is faring
extensive research among a huge cross- £1 APC levy is not trebled as has
section of our readers. been proposed, the CAA argues City comment.
You asked us to deliver industry news sto- Monk: I was wrong! p14
ries and how they might affect you; compre- Swine flu. City analyst Andrew Monk admits
hensive destination and sector updates and Mexico tourism plummets p6 that Tui and Cook’s successful
selling tips; plus fantastic competitions Searches on the Cheapflights price capacity cuts and drive for profit
and incentives (you won’t find Gold comparison site for Mexico fell 16% have confounded his expectations
Medal giving away six cars in any on Tuesday amid fears about the
other publication, that’s for sure!). swine flu outbreak in the country. Comment.
Crucially, most of you wanted The drop contrasted with a 13% Shout about great deals p16
information in print so you increase in searches for Thailand Forget the stupid penny-pinching
could read it at home, travelling and a 6% increase for India measures and promote the great
to work or in your coffee breaks. offers, says ITV’s Mike Pearse
So we listened to everything you Competition.
said and acted upon it. Contrary to Gold Medal Mini giveaway p7 SECTORS.
the popular saying, for us here at Gold Medal is offering six Mini Cruise p20
TTG, no news is NOT good news. cars to agents in a sales incentive Air p24
which it hopes will double its Hotels & resorts p26
Lucy Huxley Editor sales to Dubai’s Atlantis Palm Business travel p28
resort Operators p30
02 01.05.2009
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