p12 news May 8 6/5/09 19:14 Page 12
news
ttglive.com
Inghams set to fill
Agent launches
transfer business
Tui gap in Lapland
THE COMPETITIVE holiday transfer market
attracted another entrant this week – and this
one has pledged to be the most agent-friendly.
The venture, called
Diy-taxiagents.com, has
Michael Lane.
been set up by Paul Higgins, who also owns a
SKI SPECIALIST Inghams will expand its Lapland travel agency in Leeds, after he bought Diy-taxis
2009-10 programme following Tui Travel’s partial from a friend.
withdrawal due to insufficient bookings. He believes existing transfer companies offer
Tui’s Crystal Ski and Thomson have dropped agents commission but nothing else, and he
their programmes entirely and sister company claims
Diy-taxiagents.com will do better.
First Choice will offer only non-ski packages in “It is a busy market, but there is room for a
the peak pre-Christmas period. Last year it took more agent-friendly offering,” he said. “So I de-
6,000 children “to see the real Santa”. cided to buy my own transfer company and share
In contrast, Inghams is expanding, offering a it with other agents. I wanted to make it fun, more
new destination, Salla, and more seven-night web 2.0 in design, and have lots of competitions.”
holiday options.
Diy-taxiagents.com also enables agents to
Ian Brittain, Inghams’ Lapland product brand transfer vouchers and set their own
manager, said the company’s decision hinged on Brittain expected economic conditions to have a commission levels.
its competitor’s reduced plans. more severe effect this year. Higgins added: “Why should agents advertise
“We would have taken a more cautious But he said bookings had picked up in the other companies to clients when we have passed
approach but the lack of competition means we wake of Tui’s withdrawal. business to them? My site allows agents to
can comfortably maintain charter flights. Ian Davis, Crystal Ski’s product director, said upload their company logo so that e-tickets are
“There’ll be less last-minute discounting and it was a difficult decision, but a reduction in branded for them.
in some cases we’re going to increase seat demand had led Tui to consolidate its offering “The commission rate sits automatically at
capacity,” he said. around the peak season. 15% but agents can alter this simply to whatever
Brittain said had it not been for Tui’s decision Affected customers will be offered ski holidays level they please.”
Inghams might have cut at least one of its four at other destinations, a holiday to Lapland with The site covers Europe and the US and Higgins
weekly charter flights to Kittila airport, probably First Choice or cancellation free of charge. said he would welcome feedback from agents.
from Bristol or Birmingham. Inghams’ new holidays to Salla go on sale on Higgins also plans to launch flight and accom-
Inghams saw a 4% decline in bookings in July 6 with an introductory booking discount of modation operations this year, provisionally
2008-09 compared with the previous year and £150 per couple. branded Diy-fly and Diy-rooms.
LAUNCHPAD.
Greatdays Cosmos Warner Leisure Hotels
Magical Travel for Groups 2009-10 Winter Holidays 2009-10 Exclusively for Adults 2009-10
Greatdays’ new Magical Travel for Groups Cosmos has launched a Winter Holidays range Warner Leisure Hotels has published its third-
brochure features the best of Disneyland brochure offering holidays from three to 42 edition brochure, which features a new map
Resort Paris, including Mickey’s Magical Party nights. Thirteen destinations are available includ- page and more images, as well as a new “What’s
and new attractions such as Minnie’s Party ing the Canary Islands, Costa Blanca, Costa del special about Warner?” section. Customers can
Train. It also has accommodation and restau- Sol, the Algarve, Malta, Tunisia, Egypt, the Red save up to £100 on short breaks booked before
rant offers and a no-currency-surcharge guar- Sea, Goa, Gambia and Lapland. Prices lead in at July 31. July breaks start from £143 per person
antee on all tours. Prices start from £131 per £159 per person at the four-diamond-rated Clube per break, based on a three-night weekend
adult (£58 per child) for a two-night break. Praia da Oura in the Algarve, flying from Gatwick. break at Corton, Suffolk, on July 17.
■ 0871 423 8422■ 0161 928 4422 ■ 0808 141 1111
12 08.05.2009
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76