News 01.12.11 2012 EVENT
‘Splitting’ Ace conference is good move
AGENTS HAVE welcomed the new look 2012 UK Cruise Convention, which was unveiled by the Association of Cruise Experts this week. Key changes at the convention will include a “Selling Cruise” conference in May, aimed at frontline sales staff, with four ships available to visit, and a separate Columbus Day for senior travel executives in Birmingham, in September. Ace said splitting the convention
into two parts would allow it to be “more concentrated and focused” on events for delegates. Gemma Antrobus, managing
director at Haslemere Travel, said it would be more useful to have the event split into two, as it would allow both her and a specialist cruise agent to go to the separate conferences. “It’s good to have the two focused on the different issues,” she said. However, she said having another
conference in September could prove difficult, because it was the busy season for the agency. Emma Sanger, personal travel advisor at The Co-operative Travel and a blogger for TTG, said the decision to have one event in Birmingham would also be beneficial for the trade. “Many in the north will be happy
it’s in Birmingham. It’s excellent it is splitting it up; it will be more tailored for the audiences,” she added.
Cook to ‘pursue’ rivals through Abta over ads
Watch the full interview with Ian Ailles and TTGeditor Daniel Pearce at
ttgdigital.com Lucy Siebert
THOMAS COOK’S UK mainstream boss said it has referred First Choice and Lowcostholidays to Abta over
online activity it believes breached the association’s code of conduct, following its recent troubles. Ian Ailles, chief executive of
mainstream for Thomas Cook UK & Ireland – interviewed for TTG TV this week – said: “At the end of the day we all work in a commercial environment, so I understand that
people will take commercial decisions about how they act and advertise. I think there are a few companies that may have overstepped that boundary, and we will be taking that call with Abta.” He was referring to online activity
COVERSTORY
by Lowcost-holidays and First Choice. “We believe in a strong regulatory body for the industry, which Abta is, and we will pursue those companies through Abta,” said Ailles. Abta confirmed it is investigating
the First Choice advert for potential breaches of the code of conduct
Birmingham move will please agents in the north
■Change of focus and open forums for ACE in 2012, p12-13
04 01.12.2011
POSITIVE EFFECT: Restoring consumer confidence is the focus of the big two’s new ad campaigns, which have been launched in the wake of the Cook crisis. Thomson acted almost immediately by launching its “You’re in Safe Hands” adverts last Friday and Thomas Cook kickstarted its promotional efforts on Tuesday
under two clauses. “Clause 6B states that members shall not bring Abta or its membership into disrepute, and 6L states that members shall not
make any representations about the financial status of any other member and we have written to [First Choice owner] Tui asking for its comments,” an Abta spokesman said. Lowcostholidays had used the line “Been Thomas Crooked?” in search advertising, but removed it within hours. Paul Evans, chief executive, blamed an “over-zealous” member
with two separate ads. These moves are not a sign of a
loss of consumer confidence, said Gary Grieve, chairman of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Travel Industry Group (Cimtig). “I don’t think that consumer
confidence has been the fallout from this week’s announcement; it has been the opposite. Every
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