p6 news Dec11 9/12/09 20:36 Page 6
news
ttglive.com
In brief
CAA to chase agents
■ Orient Express to make final rail trip
The Orient Express service hits the buffers for the
last time tomorrow. The 125-year-old service will
come to an end and the name will disappear from for Customflights cash
European timetables. During its 1930s heyday, the
Orient Express ran between Paris and Istanbul.
Chris Gray.
tion had customers booked on
THE CAA plans to pursue up Customflights, but the CAA said
■ TTG Big Idea winners hold first roadshow to 60 agents for the cost of it would not ask them to pick
Perfect Weddings Abroad, winner of the 2008 refunding customers booked up the cost of reimbursing
TTG Big Idea investment competition, is to hold on collapsed Atol-holder customers because they
its first roadshow on Monday. Danny Waine and Customflights. remained covered under the
Helen Doyle will host up to 35 Hays retail agents It said it would chase the association’s T-Atol scheme.
and a few independents in Middlesbrough. agents because they booked The T-Atol agreement was
passengers on the seat-only declared to be potentially “un-
■ Four Seasons scoops double-Michelin accolade operator in arrangements that it lawful” during last month’s Travel
The Four Seasons Hong Kong has become the believes constituted a package, which Republic case, and the CAA is likely to
only hotel in the world with two three-Michelin should have been protected under Atol licences face questions about whether it should also ask
star restaurants. Lung King Heen was first to be taken out by the agents. TTA members to cover the costs.
awarded the accolade, and now the formerly The CAA is taking the stance on behalf of The CAA said the Air Travel Trust had agreed to
two-star French restaurant Caprice has been trustees of the Air Travel Trust Fund, regardless bear the costs while a review continued about
awarded the same accolade. of the recent failure of its prosecution of Travel how to continue the T-Atol scheme in a way that
Republic for allegedly breaching Atol regulations, met the Atol regulations.
Emirates offers Selfridges vouchers a judgment against which it is appealing. TTA operations director Gary Lewis said it
Emirates is offering agents thousands It also warned that in future cases similar to was fair that members should not have to pay
of pounds’ worth of Selfridges vouchers. that of Customflights, it may not refund flight because the T-Atol scheme still provided 100%
Agents can submit an entry for a prize costs of customers who booked through an agent protection to the customer.
draw each time they make a booking between – even if the flight were provided by an Atol holder. Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer said the CAA’s
December 26 and January 31. Fifty agents will Customflights, which was licensed to carry response to Customflights’ failure highlighted its
receive prizes at a gala dinner in London on nearly 13,000 passengers a year, ceased trading difficulties in enforcing the European Package
February 15. Three will receive grand prizes of in November. It dealt with about 60 agents, in- Travel directive. Tanzer is urging agents to seize
up to £10,000. cluding many who sold its flights in combination the chance to influence reform of the directive.
with other components booked at the same time.
ttglive.com
For the latest news, reviews and comment Up to 20 members of the Travel Trust Associa- ■ Read Tanzer’s comment: ttglive.com/tanzer
from the travel industry, visit ttglive.com
Travelscope boss
to face hearing
TRAVELSCOPE HOLIDAYS’ former finance
director, Mark Horwood, will appear at an
Institute of Chartered Accountant disciplinary
hearing next week.
Travelscope collapsed in December 2007,
leaving 270 people out of work and 45,000
cancelled holidays.
Horwood set up Van Gogh Cruise Line soon
after the collapse, which took on some of the lost
holidays, but it also went into administration
after its ship, Van Gogh, was impounded.
The hearing will look specifically at Horwood’s
conduct in November 2007 and whether or not STRIKE! Co-operative Travel staff raised £1,400 for the RNID at a bowling night in
he had “committed any act or default likely to Didsbury, Manchester, organised by Droylsden branch manager Stella Kenyon. Pictured
bring discredit on himself, the institute or the from left: Busch Entertainment’s Michaela Gray; Stella Kenyon; Attraction World’s Mick
profession of accountancy”. Hughes; Co-op regional manager Marcus Turner; and Red Sea Holidays’ Nicola Graham.
06 11.12.2009
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