p6 news Jan22 20/1/10 19:25 Page 6
news
ttglive.com
Abta: EU law must
Travelzest upbeat
after turnaround
cover DP sales
TRAVELZEST is hoping to put itself further into
the black over the next year after turning a £4.9
million loss in 2008 to a £719,000 profit for the
Chris Gray.
ation said it was backed by year ending October 31, 2009.
ABTA is calling for all agents an overwhelming majority, The group went through a major restructure
who dynamically package including the Advantage last year which along with the continued strong
holidays to be brought under and Worldchoice consortia. performance of Canada-based itravel2000 have
an extended European Pack- Of the 141 responses to been highlighted as major reasons for the turn-
age Directive – meaning they Abta’s own consultation, around. Sales also increased 6% to £189.5 million.
would have to financially protect customers. 75% backed extending protection. Jack Fraser, group chief operating officer and
Its formal submission to the European Abta head of public affairs Luke Pollard said a financial director, told TTG this week he expects
Commission’s consultation on reforming the maximum of 15% of members would be brought more efficiencies to kick in during 2010 which
directive says it should not cover agents when under the directive as a result of the proposal. will contribute to the group having a successful
they sell other companies’ packages, but should “The new directive won’t be coming in until 2010.
apply if they put together components themselves. sometime between 2014 and 2016 so members He added: “We have tried to get rid of large
Present rules state all sales of packages are who are affected by the extended scope will have overhead costs and that has been successful.
subject to the directive so have to be covered by time to adjust their business models accord- “In the past six months a new management
an Atol in the UK. ingly,” he said. team has been brought in and we are confident
Abta has twice successfully fought legal battles Abta’s proposal for the directive mirrors its these are the right appointments.
with the CAA to demonstrate the directive does support for a “flights plus” option for reform of “The changes have taken a while for people to
not cover dynamic packaging, but it is now calling the Atol system in a Department for Transport get used to, but everything is working out well.”
for the law to cover those sales. consultation. “Flights plus” would mean all sales He also revealed that while the group, which
Its response is likely to alienate agents who of a flight plus another holiday component would owns operators such as Tapestry Collection, VFB
rely most on dynamic packaging, but the associ- need an Atol. Holidays and Captivating Cuba, has no new travel
company purchases in mind the “eye and ears
are not closed off.”
Agent wins
“We are sometimes approached by companies
EX
TT
CL
G
that want us to become part of the group and we
USIVE look at opportunities as they arise,” he said.
disabled row
A YORK travel agent persuaded Eurostar to waive
Carnival returns
its rules so a disabled customer can sit with his
family on a trip to Paris, writes Rupert Murray. to Europe in 2011
Paul Smith of Quartz Travel spent two months
fighting for his wheelchair-using client Alan Sage CARNIVAL Cruise Lines is to return to Europe in
before Eurostar agreed to make an exception. 2011 after a gap of three years with a series of
He booked four standard seats through itineraries around the Mediterranean.
Thomas Cook-owned Cresta but was later told The US line will be bringing Carnival Magic,
disabled seats were only located in the premium which is currently under construction, to Europe
Leisure Select carriage. Quartz Travel managing director Paul Smith (left) with from May to October next year when it will be
This meant the disabled client and one other client Alan Sage, who will now be travelling with his family based from Barcelona.
could sit together without paying the difference Carnival ran a European programme for sev-
but the other two would be charged almost £150 disabled people and trying to make it possible eral years in the mid-2000s but pulled out after
extra if they wished to travel as a four. for their holiday experience to be no different to cancelling its 2009 programme from the UK.
But after Smith went into battle for his clients, anyone else.” Magic will run a series of seven, nine and
Eurostar and Cresta agreed to let all four sit in A Eurostar spokesman said there were two 12-day cruises from Barcelona, which will call at
leisure select for the price of standard tickets. disabled seats per train in the Leisure Select ports including Monte Carlo, Rome, Naples,
Smith said: “This holiday means the world to section for health and safety reasons. Messina, Palma, Venice and Dubrovnik. A special
this family and not being able to sit together as The policy remained that disabled passengers one-off nine-day voyage from Venice to
a four was incredibly distressing for them.” paid standard class rates along with one Barcelona will operate from May 1-10, 2011.
“It’s not their fault Eurostar has put the companion, but extra passengers would have to Carnival Magic will be a sister ship to Dream
disabled seats in the leisure select carriage. pay full fare to join the rest of the party. “But we – which launched late last year – and will have a
“As an industry we should be embracing do look at each case individually.” he said. capacity of 3,652 passengers.
06 22.01.2010
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