p5 news Sept4 2/9/09 21:45 Page 5
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In brief
‘Direct discounts
n Etihad to open Heathrow lounge
Etihad Airways is to open a premium lounge for
first and business-class passengers in Heathrow’s
Terminal 4 on September 30. The facility will also
be open to Guest Gold and Silver card holders.
The airline said customers would enjoy “five-star killed my agency’
dining” and have access to therapists from the
Six Senses Spa brand.
Rupert Murray.
“There is not much point
n ResortHoppa reports record sales in July AN AGENT forced to cease
“It is impossible
selling a £3,000 cruise for a
Transfer specialist ResortHoppa had a record trading has blamed dis-
to compete with
£5 profit.”
month in July with more than 125,000 passengers. counting by operators – and
This figure is 25% more than the previous best
operators selling
Watt hopes to get back
warned it will drive other into travel at some point
month and 36% up on 2008. Sales director Tim small agencies to the wall.
at net and even
and expressed hope that
Buckman said: “We are delighted with these Susan Watt, owner of the other agencies do not get
results.” Forward bookings for 2010 are 121% Millennium Travel Agency in
undercutting
forced into a corner as she
higher than at the same point in 2008. Cardiff, closed her shop on
net prices”
has been.
Wednesday. “I would hate to see
n Airline losses dwarf Iata’s predictions She said she was left with
Susan Watt, Millennium
others close but it seems
Airlines have lost more than £3.7 billion in the no choice after finding it inevitable,” she said.
first half of 2009, according to Iata. The figure is impossible to compete with operators and cruise Millennium had about £200,000 of forward
double what Iata predicted last December would lines selling direct. bookings and Watt is in the process of contacting
be lost in the entire year. Most carriers made She said: “I was having issues getting tickets her clients.
losses between April and June, the period when for customers, cash flow was a problem and it is Millennium Travel is the fourth Abta member
they would normally make 50% of their profit. impossible to compete against operators when agency to close in the past few weeks.
they are selling at net and even undercutting The Package Holiday Company in Kippax,
n Two BMI bosses leave in Lufthansa shake-up net prices.” Leeds, Cambuslang Travel in Cambuslang,
Two senior managers are leaving BMI as a Watt singled out the cruise industry as partic- Glasgow, and Newbury-based cruise specialist
result of a shake-up introduced by new owners ularly tough, leaving some customers coming to Windsor & Neate all ceased trading because they
Lufthansa. Peter Spencer, managing director of her only for help in travelling to the port. could not meet future liabilities.
BMI Mainline, which covers the airline’s Heathrow “Cruise companies are the worst: I have had Any retail claims arising from the failure of any
base, and Martyn Bridger, BMI Mainline’s clients booking their cruises elsewhere and of the agencies will be handled by Cega, Abta’s
commercial director, are leaving a month after coming to me for the train tickets,” she said. claims handling partner.
Lufthansa took a controlling stake in the airline.
Spencer will be replaced by Dominic Paul, who
was previously head of business development
at Go, the no-frills airline set up by British
Airways that merged with easyJet.
Sue Biggs among Thomas Cook departures, p6
n Golf group pitches in for more UK bookings
Atlantic Links has joined the International
Association of Golf Tour Operators in a bid to
boost bookings via the trade. The company is a
collection of five links courses in the south-west
of England. A spokeswoman said Atlantic Links
was targeting business frrom the UK to add to its
customers from the US and Europe.
n Busch Gardens plans safari ‘playland’
Busch Gardens Tampa in Florida will open a new
Sesame Street-themed “Safari of Fun” area next
spring. The “playland” will feature rides, shows SOAKED ON THE COSTA DEL STOKE: Co-op Travel training coordinator Katie Tilsley
and online learning and development officer Julie Walsh get ready for a soaking when
ttglive.com
For the latest news, reviews and comment
they join an “It’s a Knockout” charity competition on September 20. The event in Stoke
from the travel industry, visit ttglive.com will raise money for the RNID. To donate, go to justgiving.com/thecooperativetravel
04.09.2009 05
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