p9 news Jan22 20/1/10 13:37 Page 9
ttglive.com
news
Agents get own
New body BEST is
festival passport
talk of the trade
TRAVEL agents selling
holidays to Edinburgh’s
annual summer festival
Rupert Murray.
can take advantage of a AGENTS and operators have been rushing to get
new trade-only “pass- involved in the new escorted trade association
port” designed to guide that TTG exclusively revealed last week.
novices to the best Better Escorted Touring (BEST) aims to
events. change the perception of the sector and high-
The Scottish capital light the commercial opportunities for the trade.
plays host to a series Paul Melinis, sales director of Insight
of world-famous events Vacations and Trafalgar Tours, said: “The
every August, including response has been fantastic, with operators and
the Edinburgh Interna- agency groups getting in touch to find out more
tional Festival and the Fringe Festival. and ask how they can get involved.
The Edinburgh Festivals Passport will be “Loads of people seem to realise the potential.
available for agents to sell for this year’s events. The amount of interest has reinforced our belief
The passport includes daily admission to three that this body can make a serious impact.”
shows, selected by critics, across different BEST’s founder members – Cosmos Tourama,
festivals in the city. Collette Worldwide Holidays, Page & Moy/Just
Prices start at £40.75 and are offered at a net You, Leger Holidays, Insight Vacations and
rate which agents can mark up. It is available Trafalgar Tours, Wendy Wu Tours and Shearings
now – several months before event tickets go on – are keen to hear from anyone interested in across is that we are open and would love to hear
general sale. being involved. from anyone and everyone who is interested
Edinburgh Festivals marketing manager Susan Melinis said: “All of us are really pleased in BEST.”
Russell said: “The passports are exclusive to with the way this has been embraced already by The group plans to meet again in early
the trade and we have no plans to launch them the trade. February to discuss structure, membership and
direct to consumers.” “Before TTG had even landed on desks we plans for the short to medium-term future.
The passports are available for each day from were getting calls from people who had seen the
August 6-30 and include discounts on cafes and announcement on
ttglive.com. ■ To find our more about Better Escorted
restaurants. “At the moment the message we want to get Tours, email
paul.melinis@bookttcuk.com
Thomson’s gay
Byrne quits Cosmos for rail firm
seal of approval TONY BYRNE is leaving his role Great Rail Journeys’ opera-
as head of trade relations at tions director Keith Clarke said
THOMSON launches gay-friendly holidays today Cosmos Tourama to become Byrne’s expertise in the
with its Freedom Collection. Its e-brochure national sales manager for all-inclusive tour market and
features a collection of hotels from budget to Great Rail Journeys. profile in the trade were key to
boutique with a seal of approval from online Byrne (pictured) joins Great his appointment.
accreditation programme GayComfort. Rail Journeys on February 1 and The company has also
A spokesman said: “This means frontline hotel hopes to continue to play a role appointed Jamie Waterhouse as
staff have had special training to help strip out in trade association BEST, which e-commerce manager.
the awkwardness that often creeps into same- launched last week. Cosmos Tourama managing
sex holidays, such as the moment when a couple “Cosmos Tourama will remain director Alan MacLean said
check in and it is assumed they would want a a founder member and is keen Byrne had been the “perfect
twin room instead of a double.” to boost the profile of escorted ambassador” for the company.
Thomson is also offering same-sex ceremonies touring through this body. I will be looking at how Meanwhile Kaleidoscope Travel Group, which
in Ibiza, with extras ranging from stretch limos I can be involved in my new role,” he said. includes Travelsphere and BEST members Page
to fire-swallowing showmen. Byrne said he was sad to be leaving Cosmos & Moy and Just You, has appointed former
after almost four years but the opportunity Elegant Resorts managing director Nathan
■ Showtime for gay travel specialist, p36 was too good to turn down. Philpot as sales and marketing director.
22.01.2010 09
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