p4 news May 8 6/5/09 21:11 Page 4
news
08.05.2009
Norman Lamont
to speak at Abta
ITT extends board
FORMER CHANCELLOR
Norman Lamont (pic-
voting deadline
tured) will be one of the
keynote speakers at the
Lee Hayhurst.
“I have no issues with Steven. A lot of people
Travel Convention this MEMBERS of the Institute of Travel and Tourism are thinking this is a personal vendetta; it’s not,
year. have been given extra time to cast their votes in it’s about trying to be transparent,” he said.
Lord Lamont was the forthcoming board elections after concerns “We should have at least two people standing
chancellor during the last were raised about the original May 31 deadline. in each category. If I lose, then so be it.”
recession under prime TTG understands there was a flurry of emails Freudmann was given an unanimous vote of
minister John Major. between board members last week about the confidence by the ITT board last month after he
He resigned after Black Monday when sterling election. Ballot papers were originally due to was forced to resign from Abta over the collapse
was forced to leave the European exchange rate be in by the end of May, before the annual of his brother’s failed Unpackaged Holidays, of
mechanism, despite his putting interest rates to conference on June 8-10, but members have now which Steven had been a director. Unsecured
record highs in an effort to keep it in. been told the deadline is June 19. creditors were furious when it was sold to
Abta said Lamont’s experience put him in a In previous years, voting has taken place up another of the Freudmanns’ companies, The
good position to chart the likely course of this until the annual summer cocktail event at the Travel Club, in a controversial “pre-pack” deal.
recession and the outlook for UK business. House of Commons in July. Meanwhile, no challenger to Advantage chief
Chief executive Mark Tanzer said: “He has This year, chairman Steven Freudmann faces a executive John McEwan’s bid for the Abta
been at the heart of this country’s finances and challenger, having been elected unopposed on presidency has yet emerged, but it is understood
had to make tough decisions in harsh conditions.” the past two occasions (TTG May 1). one could be encouraged to run within days.
The convention takes place on October 6-8. Affordable Travel Group director Michael TTG understands a number of names are
Stevens told TTG he had switched his candidacy being bandied around as potential alternatives,
■ Register at thetravelconvention.com from the general category to that for travel two of which are active travel agents and would
agent, after promising members they would offer a choice to non-Advantage Abta members
have a choice. He said his decision to take on in the event of a first-ever election for the post.
Iata ‘cannot sell
Freudmann was not personal but he believed
it was “time for a change” at the institute. ■ Unhappy with Freudmann? Letters, p35
passenger data’
A EUROPEAN code of conduct introduced last
month to protect agency-generated traveller Bed banks lose Spanish tax claim
information does apply to Iata, the European
Commission has ruled. UK ACCOMMODATION-ONLY suppliers have failed It is unknown how much of this total was due
Travel agents and global distribution in their bid to claim money from the Spanish tax to come from Spain.
companies feared Iata would ignore the authorities. HotelConnect commercial manager Ian
legislation and sell passenger data it collects New advice from financial adviser Grant Ackland said: “We took advice a few years ago
through its payment system. Thornton UK said the Spanish had now refused this money would not be paid so we have never
But, in answer to a question posed by Labour larger IVA (the equivalent of VAT) claims and claimed or put it in our accounts.”
MEP Brian Simpson, the EC said last week it was appeals from 2006 onwards. On Holiday Group chief executive Steve
“clear” the rules applied to the airline industry. The IVA and VAT claims of some firms stretch Endacott also said it had never included IVA.
The CRS Code of Conduct gave agents a into the millions but Lowcostgroup is the only “It wasn’t included due to the uncertainty of
veto on whether passenger data – known as major room supplier still including it in accounts. whether or not it would be paid. This now looks
marketing information data tape – captured by Its 2008 accounts, which showed a pre-tax highly prudent given the latest advice.”
GDSs could be sold to third parties. profit of £457,329, included £1,448,590 in IVA Youtravel.com cannot claim IVA because it
Sabre, Travelport and Amadeus, which sells and VAT, and stated: “The directors are of the acts as a principal and Hotels4U.com is also
the data to airlines, must now obtain permission opinion the claims are repayable in full and in not believed to include it in accounts, but would
from their agency customers to continue to do so. accordance with third-party advice they received.” not comment.
04 08.05.2009
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