p4 News may29 27/5/09 21:34 Page 4
news
29.05.2009
Abta’s chairman
Probe goes on
‘must lobby hard’
for Travelzest
TRAVELZEST has said it is pressing ahead with
an investigation into the misappropriation of
Lee Hayhurst.
many FTO members about the proposed rise. company funds, despite a lawsuit issued by its
THE NEW Abta chairman will be expected to Meanwhile, McEwan has continued to receive chief executive Chris Mottershead.
lobby hard for the interests of the travel indus- support from leading agents and operators. A statement released by law firm Schillings
try, its tour operator members have insisted. Bill Munro, owner of Advantage member last week on behalf of Mottershead said:
Britaly Travel owner Daniele Broccoli and Ad- Barrhead Travel, said: “The new Abta chairman “Travelzest’s investigation into the allegations,
vantage chief executive John McEwan are stand- needs to be impartial but have a firm approach. with which Mr Mottershead has co-operated
ing in the first-ever election for Abta’s top job. “There are a range of varied needs that Abta fully, has been running for nearly four weeks
FTO chairman Ian Ailles said he wanted Abta members must have and John has proved during without any end in sight.
to have a greater influence on the government. his career that he is the man for all.” “Mr Mottershead takes the matter of his
“Successive governments have neglected Laurence Hicks, managing director of Wendy Wu unblemished and hard-won reputation very
tourism, be it international or domestic,” he said. Tours, added: “John has a broad experience of seriously and feels he has had no other option
“It’s vital we have a strong voice that is the industry which enables him to see the bigger but to issue proceedings in order to obtain
relevant and understands what the membership picture, address bigger issues, deal with influ- vindication in respect of this matter.”
of Abta is all about. encers at all levels and bring people together.” The statement said Mottershead “strongly
“We support the candidate we think is more Broccoli said he would be disappointed with a denies any wrongdoing” and that the original
likely to drive that and low turnout. statement released to the City’s Regulatory News
understands that Abta
How the votes are split
There were calls from Service was considered “an extremely serious
members are both both sides for members and defamatory allegation”.
agents and operators ■ Every company membership of Abta is to use their vote, with Meanwhile, Travelzest has said it expects
and there is no hard entitled to one vote many votes thought to trading in the second half of 2009 to be below
division any more.” ■ A total of about 1,400 votes are available have already been cast. earlier expectations. It has started a review
Ailles said Abta ■ 400 of these are tour operators into potential cost savings.
should have been “all ■ The multiples and large ■ Letters, p29
over” the CAA’s bid to groups have about 100 votes ■ Question the two
increase the £1 Atol ■ Independent agents have candidates on our
US investor backs
levy to £3, reflecting around 900 votes election forum at
frustration among ttglive.com
Harvey parent
THE NEW owner of Harvey World Travel,
Airlines want Gatwick plan scrapped
Blackpool-based Vacation Travel, has brought in
a significant investor from North America looking
AIRLINES operating at Gatwick are urging BAA to airlines and would ultimately push up air fares. to break into the UK market.
cut back investment plans. Gatwick (pictured), which handles 34 million The backing comes as Harvey World’s Abta
British Airways, Ryanair and easyJet are con- passengers a year, has seen traffic fall 12% since membership was terminated after accounts were
cerned they will end up footing the bill for the the start of the year. not submitted to the association.
£900 million improvement scheme. In a letter to BAA, the airlines said: “Airlines Simon Maunder, a consultant for Vacation
The airlines said they did are facing unprecedented Travel, said Abta membership was not the main
not believe BAA has a “proven commercial challenges and issue. “The biggest problem is the leases, and
business case” to continue passenger numbers are falling. some of the shops are not viable,” he said.
with the investment. “Analysts predict there is no None of the 34 leases on closed shops are
They fear dwindling passen- end in sight. It would not be likely to be renewed.
ger numbers and the potential sensible to proceed [with the The US investor is backing Vacation Travel and
sale of the airport would lead investment] without a proven was said by Maunder to be “ambitious” and have
to costs being passed on to business case.” “hugely impressive” sales in the US.
04 29.05.2009
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