p12 news Dec11 9/12/09 18:16 Page 12
news
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Travel recruiters report
W&O’s cuts trim
upturn in job vacancies
losses to £800k
LUXURY travel group Western & Oriental has
reduced its post-tax loss by 80% for the year
Rupert Murray.
experienced professionals was shallower as a ending September 30, 2009.
TRAVEL recruitment companies are reporting result of people leaving the industry during 2009. Last year the operator lost £4.1 million,
strong signs of a recovery in the jobs market as C&M Recruitment’s business development compared with this year’s loss of £800,000.
more firms look to recruit. manager, Barbara Kolosinska, said the last Revenue fell by 8% to £57.6 million but
Pay freezes and redundancies have dominated quarter had exceeded forecasts and positions a decrease in administration costs, from
the headlines in travel and other industries were getting close to the levels of 2007. £13.5 million to £9.8 million, plus a £500,000 cut
this year but recruitment agencies have seen a “We have new clients and many of our in central costs to £3 million, were behind the
steady improvement since late summer. old ones are starting to come back, having reduction in losses.
Some firms, such as Travel Trade Recruitment cut themselves to the bare bones during the The company said difficult trading conditions
and C&M Recruitment, have seen their stock of toughest times,” she said. had been combated by “early and decisive action
vacant positions almost double since January. Kolosinska agreed that the challenge could be taken to reduce costs and integrate products”.
TTR sales director Claire Muge said: “Business finding the right people for the available roles. Chairman David Howell said: “Decisions to sig-
travel, which has been hugely affected, is Gail Kenny Executive Search director Jayne nificantly reduce cost base and integrate product
improving. The demand from tour operators Peirce said: “More new roles have been created in offerings, coupled with a degree of consumer
for retail staff picked up from September and is the past few months, particularly in purchasing confidence post-August 2009, allows the board to
expected to get much busier in the new year. And and online marketing, as our clients look to grow view 2010 with some increased optimism.”
the demand for temps has increased.” product range and distribution channels.”
Muge said the worry now was firms might
struggle to fill vacancies because the pool of ■ All the latest travel jobs, p67
In brief
Golf specialist to boost trade ties
■ Cook’s eco challenge winners scoop Africa trip
Two students from Yorkshire will head to Africa
THE UK’s fastest-growing travel company has one in 10 reservations comes from the trade. after winning top prize in Thomas Cook’s
pledged to step up its agency relations in 2010. Harding said the business would be doubling Responsible Holiday Challenge. Ruth Benson and
Your Golf Travel was ranked 15th in The efforts to build relationships with agents next Jenna Luxmore, from Prince Henry’s Grammar
Sunday Times’ list of fastest-growing companies year and pledged they would receive parity with School in Otley, West Yorkshire, are set to join
in the last year. Managing director Andrew direct prices. Leeds Metropolitan University’s responsible
Harding said the golf market had been “About 10% of our bookings now come from tourism study field trip to Gambia in February.
“recession-proof” in the past 12 months. agents and we are eager to develop closer
Sales at the London firm have grown 139% a relations going forward. It will be key to our ■ Peter Sommer adds Sicily and Greece tours
year, from £541,000 in 2005, when the firm was future success,” said Harding. Archaeological tour specialist Peter Sommer
founded, to £7.4 million last year. Other companies named in The Sunday Times Travels has added Sicily to its programme of
The company started dealing with agents only list were Low Cost Travel Group, Directline cruising tours for 2010. The brochure includes
at the beginning of the year, but already claims Holidays and Holiday Taxis. two new tours in Greece exploring the history of
the Dodecanese islands. Peter Sommer has also
recently launched a revamped website to include
destination guides, videos, recipes and galleries.
■ Exodus expands treks from Etna to Uganda
Adventure travel specialist Exodus will include
30 new trips in its Walking and Trekking brochure
for 2010-11. The new itineraries include six
countries featured by Exodus for the first time,
including hiking on Mount Etna in Sicily, exploring
the snow-capped Rwenzori mountains of Uganda
and seeing wildlife in Madagascar. Exodus offers
400 tours in 90 countries, with a focus on low
impact tourism. The new treks are designed to
appeal to different skill and fitness levels.
SCOTS DRIVE ENGLISH INTO ROUGH: Spring Hoteles hosted a Tenerife golf tournament
which saw a Scottish team beat the English. From left: Steve Endacott, Ian Scott, Mike
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For the latest news, reviews and comment
Stephenson, Alejadro Peaz (front), Antony Martin, Andrew Nicholson and Russell Parr. from the travel industry, visit ttglive.com
12 11.12.2009
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