p2 contents mar12 10/3/10 18:51 Page 2
Choose your partner
carefully – in business news
and in politics
“THIS IS about who you support and who supports
you…” “It’s time to pick your partner carefully...”
Phrases like this peppered the Global Travel Group
conference in Manchester this week. As my first
major industry event it was fascinating to witness
the issues affecting independent agents first hand,
together with the strength of feeling among them.
There were inspiring stories from those who had
this week
made a true virtue of their independence – such as
the Liverpool homeworker who’d had so much
success she set up her own high street shop.
And then there were the controversial comments
from Global boss Dave Clayton about supporting
operators who aren’t tied up with your competitors
– and the specific comments from Andy Freeth of
Travel 2, first aired in last week’s TTG.
If an independent agent can offer something from
an independent supplier that is just as good for the
Beckham returns to Old Trafford
customer, and offers them more commission to Customers at Manchester airport were treated to a glimpse of David Beckham
boot, why wouldn’t they promote it harder? and the AC Milan team on Tuesday, as the squad arrived to play Manchester
It’s true that there was more than an air of United for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
mischievousness on show in light of the fact that
both Global and Travel 2 are owned by Stella Travel Retail growth. World Cup.
Services. Tui rolls out 30 new shops p6 Zuma: SA is safe p12
But everyone needs a USP, and there’s certainly The Midlands and the north will The travel industry can send
nothing to be gained from doing things in exactly the benefit most from Tui UK’s plans customers to South Africa for
same way as your opposition. to open around 30 new shops over this summer’s World Cup
History shows the businesses brave enough to the next two years confident that they will be safe,
do things differently – even if they do ruffle a few the country’s president has said
feathers along the way – are most likely to succeed. Cruise.
Seabourn in UK drive p7 Corfu trial.
Election time Yachts of Seabourn is expanding Thomas Cook blamed p14
Choosing your partner carefully is also a theme that its UK sales team as a result of The mother of two children killed
can be applied to the election. When it comes to increased trade interest in the line by carbon monoxide poisoning
casting your vote, who are you going to and its three new ships while on holiday in Corfu
support – and who will support you? has blamed Thomas Cook for
Abta has got in early with its Luxury. their deaths
manifesto. It has done a good job of Langham’s global growth p9
distilling the views from its mem- Langham Hotels International is City.
bership into one coherent docu- on the verge of buying hotels in Taxman targets travel p16
ment – though it’s clear not every Paris, New York and Washington, Tax authorities are looking to
member will back all points. which it plans to follow with target travel as the government
In the run-up to the election, TTG expansion in Australia, Singapore tries to plug its huge public sector
will help you discern which and the US deficit, according to a leading
parties are backing our business advisor
industry and deserve the Conference report.
travel vote. ‘Consortia merger likely’ p10 REGULARS.
The three big independent travel Comment p20
agent consortia are likely to Cruise p22
Daniel Pearce
become two in the near future, Hotels & resorts p24
Editor
according to a senior boss at Virgin Air p26
Holidays, speaking at the Global Operators p30
Travel Group conference Letters p32
02 12.03.2010
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