news exhibition report World Travel Market 2010 November 8-11 ■ ExCeL ■ London
Last week’s WTM in east London saw some of the traditional issues of travel and tourism return to the agenda, such as financial protection, brochures and career prospects. By TTG reporters
‘Bizzare’ shift on Atol
Chris Gray. THE INDUSTRY appears to have changed its attitude to Atol reform in a “bizarre” manner, an Atol expert has claimed. Speaking at WTM, Alan Bowen, legal adviser to the Association of Atol Companies, said Abta and the ITT had been fully behind the proposed “Flights Plus” reform, but their commitment appeared to now be in doubt. He put Abta’s shift down to one of its directors,
Travel Republic boss Kane Pirie, advocating that all financial protection be left to credit card firms. Bowen said he had spoken to the head of
travel at one card company who said there was no way card companies would take responsibility. He added that, if forced to, card companies would drop up to 50% of their customers due to the risk. He also criticised ITT chairman Steven Freud-
mann’s claim at WTM that agents could mount an “open revolt” against the Flights Plus option. Freudmann urged agents to oppose the
proposal, saying it could make them liable for the failure of one of their suppliers.
But Bowen said agents who were genuinely selling holidays as agents for suppliers “had nothing to fear” from the reform, and that only retailers selling products as tour operators could find themselves faced with extra liabilities. Bowen said the change in attitude was
“bizarre” and that the trade risked jeopardising the “bond of trust” built up with the public over many decades if it left protection to credit card or insurance companies. Freudmann said his views were “personal” and the ITT “had never expressed an opinion on Atol reform”. “Everyone agrees the current system is a mess and needs urgent reform,” he told TTG. “What I reject is that agents who do not act as principal should be forced to accept liability for a principal.”
Abta said in a statement: “Abta believes airlines should be included in schemes of financial pro- tection. Financial protection schemes should be comprehensive and clear and transparent to both customers and the trade.”
Carrick: A fun, enjoyable and friendly industry to work in CAREERS.
Carrick gets behind tourism students
FORMER HOSEASONS chief executive Richard Carrick told travel and tourism students that they had chosen the right industry to join as it would continue to grow in the next few years. Carrick, speaking at WTM’s “Future You”
conference – organised by the ITT and the Tourism Society – said: “You are investing your futures in an industry that will continue to grow. The market is massive and it’s a fantastic industry to work in. “We sell stuff that people want to buy – we’re not selling pensions or tyres and exhausts. It is fun and an enjoyable and friendly industry to work in. But it is also competitive and you have to compete for every single penny.” He said there was now a “demographic bulge” with more over-55s who had the “time, money and inclination to travel” driving growth. Carrick added that students now had more
career options with the growth of online agencies, homeworking firms and call centres, as well as traditional high street shops and tour operators. Other speakers at Future You included Club
RAISING THE STANDARD: Agents partied with dancers from Trinidad and Tobago at the Caribbean Scene restaurant in east London during WTM. The destinations were promoting a training programme intended to bring service levels up to international standards.
16 19.11.2010
18-30 managing director Teresa Walsh, who spoke about how the youth brand had changed its image, New Frontiers Recruitment’s Bruce Martin, who gave practical tips on creating a good CV, and training specialist Debbee Dale from Debbee Dale Development.
ttglive.com
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