p4 news Sept25 23/9/09 18:59 Page 4
news
25.09.2009
Atol renewals put Abta unfazed
ailing firms at risk
by rule furore
ABTA chairman John McEwan has claimed
Martin Ferguson.
But Jimmy Martin, president of the Scottish there is little threat to the association from bed
THE AUTUMN Atol renewal period is intensifying Passenger Agents’ Association and owner of banks pressuring agents to consider alternative
pressure on travel firms already struggling for Edinburgh agency Jimmy Martin Travel, said organisations in response to a proposed rule
credit and grappling with bank demands, a factor more agents would go to the wall if support was change by the association.
cited for causing the latest agency failures. not forthcoming from trade bodies and regulators. TTG understands one major bed bank has
Owners of independent companies have called He said agents’ core problem was the initiated talks with the Travel Trust Association.
on financial institutions, Abta and the CAA to reluctance of banks to treat individual Abta’s proposed rule change is to make bed
be more supportive so the industry can avoid a companies on their own merit. bank members duty-bound to honour any
barrage of failures. “The banks are on our tails,” he said. “They’ve bookings in the event of an agency failure even if
One leading industry figure warned of always seen travel as a liability and the situation they have not received payment.
“carnage” in early October when the Atol is worse than ever. But they look at travel agents The association believes this would clear
renewal deadline comes. as if they were all the same: if one does a few up a grey area created by the rise of dynamic
Scottish agencies Bill McCarthy Travel and dodgy deals we’re all tarred with the same brush.” packaging and brought to light by the Freedom
Cambuslang Travel both recently failed blaming Martin claimed there were agents that had been Direct collapse. The row is set to come to a head
cash flow problems exacerbated by banks profitable for years being put under unnecessary at next week’s member vote.
unwilling to provide overdrafts. pressure from Abta about company accounts. Asked if he was concerned the Abta stance
John McEwan, chairman of Abta and chief McEwan said: “The Abta finance procedures could prompt suppliers to encourage agents to
executive of Advantage, said the Atol renewal have not changed. We should be sympathetic to leave Abta for the likes of the TTA, McEwan said:
process was a vicious circle for agents experienc- members given the situation. “You can never be complacent about anything,
ing cash flow problems. “But there has to be a balance between but I do not see this as a serious option because
“It’s a real dilemma,” he said. “The CAA need being flexible and supportive without putting the the vast majority of Abta members get material
to look closely at each situation. If you don’t organisation as a whole at risk.” benefits of being a member.”
have much cash you’re more of a risk – you can Abta is due to meet bed banks next week
understand where the CAA is coming from.” ■ Advantage conference news, p10 ahead of the member vote at an EGM on Friday.
Camping Ninja
wins The Big Idea
A START-UP camping website has scooped a
£100,000 investment as winners of this year’s
TTG Big Idea competition, sponsored by the
Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce
Marketing.
The venture, Camping Ninja, was announced Victors and investors: (from left) Chris Photi, Jane Dyson, Paul Stanyer, Geoff Vaughan, Rhian Evans, Olly Brendon and Ian Scott (DTCM)
as the winner at the start of the TTG Travel
Awards on Tuesday, beating five other finalists. “We had decided to pursue our big idea with excited about getting started,” added Vaughan.
Camping Ninja’s Geoff Vaughan and Rhian or without winning, but this is such a boost.” The duo are to leave their jobs at Explore!
Evans admitted they were speechless when their The pair spent an hour calling friends and fam- to focus full time on their camping website.
name was read out by investor Jane Dyson. ily after coming off stage and then began cele- The other investors are Olly Brendon of Attrac-
Vaughan said: “It’s not every day you win brating properly with their new business partners. tion Tickets Direct, Paul Stanyer of Holiday Taxis
£100,000 and top investors. We couldn’t be happier. “The investors were all buzzing with ideas and and Chris Photi of White Hart Associates.
04 25.09.2009
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