P12 news Dec4 2/12/09 20:59 Page 12
news
ttglive.com
French ski resorts
hit the discounts
Join ‘biggest’
pub quiz ever
AGENTS are being urged to take part in what is being
billed as the “World’s Biggest Pub Quiz” and raise
money for the Family Holiday Association.
The quiz will be held at venues around the UK
on March 25, 2010, and the charity is looking to
recruit organisers to put on quizzes on that date.
JM Gouedard
Joe Hipgrave, fundraising manager for the
Rob Gill.
“The lower VAT rate should also help counter- Family Holiday Association, said: “We’re ready to
SOME of France’s leading ski resorts have act the increase in the value of the euro.” take on the world and attempt to break the
introduced discounts to attract British visitors France saw a drop of up to 15% in UK arrivals record for the World’s Biggest Pub Quiz.
deterred by the high value of the euro. for the year to date and Abtof operators reported “We’re appealing to all our travel colleagues
The resorts in the Three Valleys, which include that summer sales came in later than in previous to help us, so more disadvantaged families can
Meribel (pictured) and Courchevel, are offering years. enjoy a much-needed break in 2010.”
discounts on accommodation and lift passes But Wilkins said the impact of the high euro FHA will provide posters, quiz questions and
during the winter. was not as “disastrous” as feared because of offer support through its website.
There will also be “Happy Weeks” in some France’s strong attractions. Each organiser whose quiz raises more than
resorts when bars will sell cheaper drinks. The self-catering market to France overcame £100 will have the chance to win a seven-night
They hope the discounts, combined with a slow start for summer 2009 and was helped by Caribbean cruise on NCL’s new ship Norwegian
France’s reduction in VAT on food to 5.5% from the poor July weather in the UK when the pre- Epic, which launches in June 2010.
19.6% in the summer, will counter perceptions dicted “barbecue summer” failed to materialise.
that it is an expensive destination. Self-drive also held up well because of cheap ■ Sign up now at
bigpubquiz.org
Robin Wilkins, chairman of the Association of fares across the Channel.
British Tour Operators to France (Abtof), said: However, short-break business is still suffer-
“The resorts have found it more difficult to get ing as customers cut back on second breaks.
over their value for money message. France can The French tourist board has also launched an
Aito agents gear
be seen as an expensive option in certain areas Affordable France section on its website to pro-
and the Three Valleys has introduced discounts. mote the relatively low cost of travel from the UK. up for showcase
MORE than 60 operators will showcase new
Balearics serve up
The campaign will promote the islands’ products at the annual Aito Specialist Travel
facilities for meetings and conferences, as well Agents’ domestic conference next month.
Nadal for business
as golf, sailing, walking and rural hotels, in a bid The conference is expected to attract 100 dele-
to move away from “sun and beach” holidays. gates when it is held in Warwick on January 16-17.
Visitor numbers for 2009 are below the As well as the marketplace for agents, there
THE BALEARIC Islands Tourism Office is trying to 13 million who visited the islands last year, and will also be conference sessions, a gala dinner
persuade agents to think of the destination as Sciacovelli said the campaign aimed to attract and the Aito Agents Mastermind final.
their first call for the meetings market. different types of holidaymakers to make up the Barry Moxley, chairman of Aito Specialist
Manager Susanna Sciacovelli said that would shortfall. Travel Agents, claimed the economy was “on
be one of the aims of a new year marketing It also hopes to extend the length of the the brink of a comeback” so January would be
campaign that would feature the world’s number islands’ tourist season beyond the core summer the perfect time to cement business relation-
two tennis player, Rafael Nadal, for the second months, by promoting more varied leisure breaks ships for next year.
year running. as well as facilities for business travellers. There are 150 Aito specialist agents in the UK.
12 04.12.2009
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