p34-35 Letters May 8 5/5/09 18:17 Page 45
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Good UK weather is biggest and 24-hour entertainment. These days, it’s If you are unhappy with
threat to selling 8m packages mainly parents who want/need their vacation, Freudmann, cast your vote
Virtually all travel companies have the “hatches which makes the decision more about ‘what can I have read with interest over the past week
battened down” and are hoping to ride out this we afford’ in the current financial climate. about the saga of Steven Freudmann, his
stormy year on the back of a decent lates market. Hence, good weather at the start of the resignation from Abta with regards to the
The big two are in reasonable shape, with the summer is the industry’s biggest threat as it is Unpackaged situation and calls from
financial cupboards full on the back of slashed likely to induce a “wait and see” mentality, as individuals calling for his resignation from
overheads delivered by last year’s mergers and customers now understand that all they need other chairs he holds, mainly the ITT.
load factors slightly ahead of last year, due to to do to find a cheap last-minute deal is open Steven did the honourable thing resigning
aggressive capacity cutting. up the internet connection if the UK weather from Abta. But I back the ITT’s board members
As an industry, however, we still need to turns bad. For most retailers this is not the end in their decision to support him as the chairman
persuade eight million customers to buy package of the world, since no matter how weak demand of ITT. Unless there is anything he might have
holidays this summer, which may be a challenge is, most charter flights fly full as operators drop done that was illegal, or brought ITT into disre-
given the weak pound. Combine this with the flight-only or package prices to fill them. pute, the board would have not backed him.
fact that tour operators need to charge £50 a The economic environment is also not as bad So for those ITT people who are calling for
booking more on late deals just to match last as many would have us believe. Although sliding him to go, you have your chance to vote him
year’s relatively poor margins, and you can see house prices have impacted people’s willingness off, while those who are not members of the
the challenge ahead is going to be a tough one. to carry on with high credit card debt (they can institute should join to try to do so.
Although it looks hopeful that the booking no longer pay it off by remortgaging their Either step up to the plate and vote or just
inertia created by swine flu fear will die away houses), disposable income has been boosted by leave the poor guy alone, and let’s all focus on
quickly as people realise it is no more deadly the cut in mortgage repayments as interest ensuring our industry tackles all the challenges
than seasonal flu, the good weather that has rates head towards zero. Ironically, people with ahead, as a united one.
kick-started the UK summer is more of a threat. jobs have never been better off, and with the
As a father of three, I know how important number of people moving house or buying new Name and address supplied
the family holiday abroad is to the social fabric cars, the holiday-making market has never had
of family life. It’s a time when the kids are more disposable income to fund a summer
taken away from the TV and are forced to play holiday. What do you think?
on the beach. Even dad has to get involved, So perhaps the first question you should ask
parking the stresses of work at the departure those entering your shop is: “Do you have a Letter of the week wins a
airport and exchanging them for the stresses of large mortgage with a variable interest rate?” £20 iTunes voucher
being a negotiator between warring children. These really are the rich pickings and maybe we
£20
courtesy of the German
The family holiday market, however, is under- should dump social profiling in exchange for National Tourist Office.
going a hidden revolution, driven by the advent mortgage assessments! The deadline for letters is 10am on Tuesday.
of 24-hour cartoon channels, the internet and We need your name, job title and company
the consoles. These days many children prefer Steve Endacott address. These will be withheld on request.
to holiday at home, with access to school mates chief executive, On Holiday Group Priority is given to letters sent exclusively to
TTG. We reserve the right to edit letters.
Email: ttgletters@ttglive.com
Rock’s Martin failed to grasp then make a claim against the failed agents’ Fax: 020 7921 8033
Abta policy and agency law Abta bond for the money owing to them. Blog: Or why not have your say online?
Rock Insurances’ Antony Martin accused Abta Martin is basically saying that the current Write a blog at yourspace-ttglive.com
of “trying to dodge its responsibilities” (TTG economic climate will encourage suppliers
May 1). This displays a basic misunderstanding to act illegally by cancelling bookings. Surely
of Abta’s role and agency law. Suppliers are he would not want us to ignore our own rules
legally obliged to honour bookings made by and in effect encourage this illegal behaviour?
their agent, even if that agent subsequently fails.
If the supplier is an Abta member, they can Mark Tanzer, chief executive, Abta
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