p10-11 Youtravel Oct 9 7/10/09 21:26 Page 10
in-depth youtravel VIP weekend
ttglive.com
Guests at the annual Youtravel VIP weekend were optimistic
about next year, concerned about Greece, and angry with
Abta and the CAA. Rupert Murray reports from Crete
‘Protection flaws
marginalise Abta’
A
BTA and the CAA have been accused when we know we are liable we pay out,” he
of shying away from their consumer said. “But there is such a big grey area that
protection responsibilities and bodies like the CAA and Abta can hide.
making themselves increasingly “They are supposed to represent the
irrelevant and “outdated”. consumer but in reality they don’t.
Chadwell Travel managing director Chetan “It is a total mess, with no consistency, and
Patel claimed the two bodies had looked for the only way to do this properly is to create a
“any excuse” to avoid paying out after recent levy or an insurance which covers every element.
failures, so another way had to be found to “The latest Abta plan is for members that Crete, unlike some other Greek islands, benefits from good air access
cover every element of a holiday. supply product to have to honour all bookings
“The government is a couple of decades whether or not they have been paid for.
2010 FORECASTS.
behind the time and still seems to think “The whole thing is flawed and they haven’t
everything is a package,” he said. tackled what to do with the money once paid
Next year tipped
“I can see no alternative to charging a price and who holds and protects it.”
per element – even something like 20p – to UK Travelshop group general sales manager for slight growth
ensure everything is covered. We have to go Geoff Andrews went a step further, claiming
down this route, as far as I can see, because Abta was “outdated and dying”. TTG asked each of the panellists for their
nobody seems willing to take responsibility.” The industry had changed so much and so predictions for next year. This is how they think
Youtravel sales and marketing director Paul many companies were no longer members that 2010 will measure up against 2009.
Riches agreed with Patel, saying the complexity it had become unnecessary, he said.
of the system meant the consumer lost out. Russell Adamson,
“We have gone through agency failures and ■ Your views on bed bank ruling: Letters, p36 Barrhead Travel
“We have three new branches
Youtravel’s round-table panel
opening in the near future so I
am very optimistic that next year is going to be
a good one. We seem to be bucking the trend
Clockwise from Victoria Sanders
top left: managing director,
and hope that will continue.”
Teletext Holidays
Phil Norris Paul Riches,
sales director, Geoff Andrews
Youtravel.com
A2B Transfers group general
sales manager,
“Booking trends have changed.
Chris Roche UK Travelshop
The DP [dynamic packaging]
commercial
arena has still got growth in it, so in our sector
manager, Paul Riches
we still see a bit of growth, but it is tough to get
Travel Republic sales and
marketing director,
customers. The feelgood factor is important.
Chetan Patel Youtravel.com Everyone has been talking about recession, but
managing director,
if you’ve still got a job you have more money to
Chadwell Travel Russell Adamson
spend, the mortgage is lower and it is going to
northern sales
Andy Stark, head director,
seem like everything is not as bad as everyone
of Triton Rooms Barrhead Travel told you – so I think people will be more
optimistic and more likely to travel.”
10 09.10.2009
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