p32letters Jan22 19/1/10 17:43 Page 32
Your letters
Dog-eat-dog industry
Will the CAA tackle agents
defrauding protection fund?
I have come across what I suspect is deliberate
flouting of the Atol regulations by agents for
drives me to despair
their own financial gain.
I have reported this to the CAA asking them
to investigate. I have identified at least two
agents who I feel have falsified their quarterly
THIS INDUSTRY is absolutely
LET
we cannot invest in our businesses. Atol returns, returning a smaller turnover
unbelievable. As an independent
OF THE
TER Our girls suffer on the front desk figure than was actually the case.
trading on the high street among
WEEK
every day. We are not travel agents In this day and age, when the regime of
the multiples for more than 25 anymore, we are price negotiators. protection is being stretched to breaking point,
years, this year it is dog eat dog. All that matters is price. No matter it cannot be reasonable that a few agents seem
Whatever price we give a client, how much work, knowledge and profes- to be defrauding the protection fund.
Thomas Cook or some other giant guarantee sionalism you put into a quote, customers go It also raises the point that the CAA
to beat us on price. This happens even if they with the cheapest price even if they have to themselves, who have the information at
do not make any money on the transaction. administer the booking themselves. hand to prevent this kind of fraud, may be
The internet, the multiples, the cruise This time next year or even this year there negligent in their duties to check the
giants and operators are all gladly putting will be fewer fantastic independents on the submissions of their Atol holders.
nails into our coffins. The multiples even get high street due to this ridiculous industry that I have no idea if the CAA will fully
beaten through their own websites against once upon a time I was proud to be part of. investigate the matter I have highlighted.
their own shops. The operators more often As an owner I don’t know what I feel Maybe this problem is not so high profile as
than not when advertising do not mention anymore – maybe despondent, depressed the Travel Republic matter.
us, their own agents. and utterly miserable. However this issue is costing the passenger
The cruise discounts are massive. Our protection fund thousands of pounds per
commissions are being cut or becoming a Karen Forrester. agent each year.
zero. All this money we’re giving away means partner, Travel On2, Barrow-in-Furness
Name and address supplied
luggage and open ALL suitcases. Yes, it took
When it comes to security, we about 30 minutes longer but no-one objected.
have a lot to learn from El Al Everyone I asked said that in these times this
I have recently travelled to Israel on a fam trip is an excellent system and should be the norm. WHAT DO YOU THINK? The deadline for letters
hosted by El Al and the Israel Ministry of Thank you EL Al, I learnt a lot and hopefully is 10am on Tuesday. We need your name, job
Tourism. With regard to recent airport security other airlines will follow you. title and company address. Please limit letters
issues, I have to say if all airlines followed El to 250 words maximum. We reserve the right
Al’s measures we would all feel much safer. Sharon Hard, personal travel consultant, to edit. Email:
ttgletters@ttglive.com
They ask numerous questions, scan all Hays Travel
ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION SUBSCRIPTIONS
Stephen Miller production manager 020 7921 8027 To subscribe, renew or check on non-delivery of your copy of TTG:
travel trade gazette
stephen.miller@ubm.com ■ log on to
www.subscription.co.uk/cc/ttg
uk & ireland edition
Alistair Taylor production controller 020 7560 4207 ■ or call 01858 438893
alistair.taylor@ubm.com ■ or email
ttg@subscription.co.uk
Issue 2897 Mark Saunders digital production 020 7921 8386 To register to receive TTG’s free, weekly digital edition:
mark.saunders@ubm.com ■ sign up at
www.ttglive.com/digitaledition/register
EDITORIAL EDITORIAL PRODUCTION
Caroline Nodder interim executive editor Matthew Parsons chief sub-editor 020 7921 8015
EVENTS Printed by Polestar Colchester Ltd.
Paul Revel deputy chief sub-editor 020 7921 8017
Katherine Mannix event producer 020 7234 8729 ISSN 0262-4397
NEWS
katherine.mannix@ubm.com
Chris Gray news editor (aviation) 020 7921 8003
ART & DESIGN
Ellie Spreckley event co-ordinator 020 7955 3751 © UBM Connect 2009
Rupert Murray reporter (agents; operators; hotels)
Nick Bartolucci group head of design 020 7921 8014
eleanor.spreckley@ubm.com
020 7921 8010
Jasveer Mehay art editor 020 7921 8430
PUBLISHING
FEATURES AND SUPPLEMENTS
COMMERCIAL
Tony Arnold managing director
Philippa Jacks features and supplements editor 020 7921 8038
Deborah Dewe sales director 020 7921 8025
Olivia Hemmings features reporter 020 7921 8004
Sheryl Makin advertising manager 020 7921 8023
HOW TO CONTACT US
Katherine Lawrey features reporter 020 7921 8018
Emma Barnes business development manager 020 7921 8508
Address TTG, First Floor, Ludgate House, 245 Blackfriars Road,
April Hutchinson ttgluxury editor 020 7921 8440
Eric Findlay senior account manager 020 7921 8022
London SE1 9UY
alhutchinson@ttgluxury.com
Ricky Wilkes account manager 020 7921 8195
Email Initial followed by
surname@ttglive.com
Simon Pilkington sales executive 020 7921 8019
eg
cgray@ttglive.com (except for those listed)
TTGLIVE.COM
Vanessa Powell journal administrator 020 7921 8029
Letters
ttgletters@ttglive.com Website
www.ttglive.com
Charlotte Walsh web editor 020 7921 8006 Features and Supplements 2009 List
ttgfeatures@ttglive.com
CLASSIFIED & RECRUITMENT
Fax Editorial 020 7921 8032/8033
Simon Pilkington sales executive 020 7921 8019
Fax Advertising 020 7921 8034
Unsolicited material cannot be returned. While we take every care of photos and manuscripts submitted to TTG (UK), we cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage. The contents of TTG (UK) are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval
systems. Refunds on cancelled subscriptions will be made at the publisher’s discretion, unless specifically guaranteed in the terms of the subscription offer. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, or recorded in information storage or retrieval systems without the prior written consent of the publisher.
32 22.01.2010
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76