p5 news Oct30 28/10/09 21:20 Page 5
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news
In brief
Caribbean’s hopes for
■ Abta issues US airline commission guidance
Abta has issued a reminder for travel agents
to check if airlines pay commission on internal
flights in North America. The advice came after
some agents complained having received Agency
APD cut face legal bar
Debit Memos from airlines for incorrectly
charging for commission on standalone domestic
US flights. Susan Parsons, Abta’s manager of
Chris Gray.
rises and continue pressure for
trade relations, said that some airlines, mostly HOLIDAY prices will increase further increases next year to be
US carriers, had not paid commission to UK this weekend when rises to Air scrapped.
agents on services originating in the US or Passenger Duty come into force – EasyJet called for APD to be
Canada for several years. but the Caribbean is still holding reformed so it taxed emissions
out hope for a reprieve. rather than passengers (pic-
■ Win £250 by voting in Co-op’s Star awards The Treasury went ahead with tured), and quoted a YouGov poll
The Co-operative Travel Star awards are just the plans despite opposition, saying 80% of the public believed
weeks away but there is still time to vote. The including TTG’s Fair Fares it should be extended to private
awards, in their second year, now cover the campaign, to remove unfair hikes jets so it hit “fat cats” as well as
entire industry, with categories including best that hit the islands and premium ordinary families.
airline, airport and tourist board. The ceremony economy passengers. The Conservatives have
will take place on December 17 and anyone who The Treasury is now believed to accept the pledged to reform APD and are thought to be
votes will be entered into a prize draw to win £250 Caribbean has a case but is uncertain whether it considering including a pledge to base it on emis-
holiday vouchers. Voting closes on November 13. can overcome legal difficulties to change the tax. sions in their general election manifesto.
starawards.coop However, it is thought if a solution could be Virgin Atlantic chief executive Steve Ridgway
found, the matter could be resolved quickly. said the tax would badly hit the UK and
■ Abta/FTO host Westminster safety round-table The issue was raised during Prime Minister’s Caribbean economies, and called on the Tories to
Abta and the FTO hosted the first of a series of Questions on Wednesday, and a delegation of commit to scrap the 2010 rises.
health and safety round-tables last week in the MPs later met chancellor Alistair Darling. Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said it would
House of Commons. Members of Parliament They demanded he remove the quirk in the tax be clear next year how damaging the increases
and a member of the House of Lords were that means travellers to the Caribbean pay more were, and that with a different political party in
presented with a report by Corgi, which contains than those to some destinations in the US that power it might be possible to get the tax changed.
recommendations for a Europe-wide approach are significantly farther from the UK. “The industry has always done its best to keep
to the safety of gas appliances. The changes in APD on Sunday will increase costs down to provide a great value product for
the tax by up to 37.5% for a long-haul flight, while travellers, but now an increasing proportion of
■ C&M Recruitment sets up executive division a rise planned for next year will see hikes of 112%. people’s valued holidays will go straight into the
C&M Recruitment managing director Angus Airlines and Abta joined forces to condemn the government’s coffers,” he said.
Chisholm and former New Frontiers director
Marie Moore have formed an executive
recruitment partnership. Chisholm & Moore
Executive Recruitment will focus on executive
recruitment in the travel, leisure and hospitality
markets. A previous joint venture, Rise Search,
which C&M Recruitment set up in June with
former Teletext boss Matt Cheevers’ consultancy
Smooth Direction, has closed.
■ Ibiza Rocks to give away VIP holiday at WTM
Ibiza Rocks is giving away a seven-day VIP stay at
its resort during its WTM party. The event, which
takes place at The Fox at ExCeL on Wednesday,
November 11 from 5-9pm, will feature Radio 1
regular DJ Doorly and Ibiza Rocks resident DJs
Nicola Bear and Simon G. For tickets, email
lucy@ibizarocks.com. Invitations can also be
collected from the TTG stand (GV4500). BIRTHDAY CALL: Queen Mary 2 visited Liverpool, the former home of its owner Cunard
Line, on a round-Britain trip to mark its fifth birthday. During the cruise, Peter Shanks,
ttglive.com
For the latest news, reviews and comment
the line’s president, laid a wreath in Cobh, Ireland, the Titanic’s last port of call on its
from the travel industry, visit ttglive.com doomed 1912 sailing. Read more about the cruise in Shanks’s blog at wearecunard.com
30.10.2009 05
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