p14 News Jan 22 20/1/10 13:35 Page 14
news
ttglive.com
In brief
■ BMI drops UK/Ireland business-class flights
BMI is to scrap business class on its UK and
Ireland flights from Heathrow and move to a
single economy cabin. Flexible economy fares
will give the option of business lounge access,
guaranteed seating, plus onboard food and
drink. BMI is also launching a Heathrow to Vienna
service from March, which will be operated in
partnership with fellow Star Alliance member
Austrian Airlines.
■ Shorex to boost cruise add-on packages
Cruise add-ons operator Shorex Travel has
appointed technology firm Astratis to build its
Travel tempts marketing talent
systems and websites. Shorex, which is being
run by former Cadogan Holidays’ directors
Tom Allen and Doug Mathieson, will specialise
Rupert Murray.
Cimtig council member Steve Dunn agreed in developing pre and post-packages for the
YOUNG marketing talent is being drawn to the technology had levelled the playing field so a cruise industry when it starts trading at the
travel industry because the quality of campaigns small company could now be “nose to nose with end of February.
is improving, according to Tui marketing and the Tui Travels of this world”.
product director Tim Williamson. “Entries have noticeably moved on with more ■ LateRooms doubles festive bookings
Speaking at the Cimtig travel marketing focus placed on embracing social media,” he Bookings on
LateRooms.com more than doubled
awards judges lunch, Williamson said the said. “Some companies still reproduce their between Christmas and New Year 2009,
standard of the entries showed travel was now offline marketing online but travel doesn’t need compared with the same period in 2008. Hotel
as good as any other sector, after lagging behind to beat itself up any more – it is an innovative sales were up 106% year-on-year from December
over several years. marketing sector,” he said. 27-29 with top destinations including London,
He added: “I have seen really innovative ideas Dunn added holidays were an emotive product Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow and York,
in this year’s entries and smaller companies are which people were keen to write about especially and increased 80% year-on-year on December
now able to afford a TV presence.” if they had a bad experience, but that “if you get 31, with London topping the popularity charts.
Pinpoint Communications chairman Gwyn it right an ambassador is worth a fortune”. The main reason for the bookings surge, said
Hughes said a smaller budget could now go a lot Dunn and Colin O’Neil, Advantage sales and
LateRooms.com chief executive Chris Morris,
further thanks to the range of media to choose marketing director, agreed tools such as Face- was that last-minute bargain hunters took
from. “The scope to get a message across with book and Twitter were useful, but companies advantage of discounted rates, making savings
less money is wider,” he said. had to maintain a presence on such sites to make of up to 70%.
“Last year’s awards were dominated by the most of the potential.
smaller companies but medium and larger firms The awards take place on March 15 at the ■
Hotel.info launches mobile application
are more involved this year.” Sheraton Park Lane hotel. Online hotel reservation service
hotel.info
has launched a mobile phone application
which allows users to find nearby properties
Discounts help to
a partner in Snowfinders, Market Harborough, when they are on the move. The application
said ski sales had doubled year-on-year for will give customers the ability to find the
lift the ski sector
January. cheapest option as well as information on hotel
“There has been a certain amount of discount- facilities and location map.
ing by the tour operators and this has really
SKI SPECIALISTS say they have witnessed a rush stimulated the market,” he said. ■ Austravel all-inclusive debut to Australia
of last-minute bookings in January after “A lot of groups that usually book in the Austravel is offering its first all-inclusive trip
discounting by operators helped push up sales. summer and didn’t are now panicking and are Down Under with a 10-night holiday to Sydney
Ski Lagrange sales and marketing manager desperate to get something booked up.” and the Great Barrier Reef. The itinerary includes
Matt Richardson said the late sales were putting Mathew Prior, managing director for Crystal Qantas flights, four nights in both Sydney and
pressure on availability for some operators and Ski, Thomson Ski and First Choice Ski, said the Cairns, all meals and selected drinks plus two
agents. early season had been slow, but there were “very sightseeing cruises and transfers. It is priced
“Fortunately we have good last-minute high late volumes”. from £1,595 but must be booked by February 2
availability because we own properties in The operator’s all-inclusive packages were for selected travel dates in April and May 2010.
France, but a lot of agencies are finding it hard to also driving demand, he added.
get availability,” he said. Inntravel said bookings were coming in at a
ttglive.com
For the latest news, reviews and comment
One of the operator’s key agents, Nick Edwards, “very encouraging rate”. from the travel industry, visit
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14 22.01.2010
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