NEWS ROUND-UP
READERS’ LIVES: “Competition is now tougher, with suppliers who sell direct and 20 years ago we did not dynamically package” Alison Holmes, page 42
Visions offers support after Turkey specialist Elixir fails
Jennifer Morris
jennifer.morris@
travelweekly.co.uk
Visions Holiday Group has stepped in to offer its support to agents rebooking clients affected by the closure of Turkey specialist Elixir Holidays last week.
London-based operator Elixir,
which employed five people in London and more in Turkey, sold about 10% of its product through the trade and had 309 passengers booked to travel when it ceased trading on February 17. Its customers are being assisted
by the Atol protection scheme. Visions Holiday Group general manager Lucy Cook said the company, which specialises in holidays in Turkey, Greece, Italy and Africa, had contacted agency consortia to offer its services. “We took on 14 of Exclusive Escapes’ properties for 2016 after its demise last year,” she said. “Turkey has been OK for us,
though; people will continue to travel to areas they know and love.” A spokesman for Elixir
Holidays, who did not wish to be named, described terrorist
Elite Island Resorts acquires Pineapple resort from Sandals
Sandals Resorts International has confirmed the sale of Grand Pineapple Antigua to Elite Island Resorts for an undisclosed sum. The 180-room resort in Long
Bay will continue accepting bookings and will remain open. The property will start operating under a new name and brand,
REBRAND: Pineapple Beach Club
Pineapple Beach Club, on June 1. All staff will remain in place under the new management team. Guests due to arrive at Grand
8
travelweekly.co.uk 25 February 2016
NEWS IN BRIEF
Tunisia extends state of emergency until March
A state of emergency imposed in Tunisia before Christmas has been extended by another month. It was originally extended until February 21 but will now run until March 22, according to the Foreign Office. The state of emergency was introduced after a suicide attack on a police bus on November 24.
Ovation of the Seas to sail an extra inaugural cruise
KALKAN: Elixir Holidays offered hotels in seven destinations in Turkey
“Turkey has been OK for us – people will continue to travel to the areas they know”
attacks in the country – including bombings in Istanbul and Ankara this year, which killed a total of 38 people – as “the writing on the wall” for the firm. However, the company’s two
directors were at odds as to the reason for the closure, citing a “commercial dispute” rather than
solely security concerns about Turkey. Mark Warner revealed last week
that it was pulling out of the Sea Garden Resort Bodrum after six years in Turkey and is offering alternative holidays. Meanwhile, Neilson executive chairman Richard Bowden-Doyle said sales for Turkey were “behind where we’d like them to be” and that the operator was looking at opportunities to redirect capacity towards resorts and properties “where we believe demand will be
strongest”. › Operator News, page 24
Pineapple Antigua after May 30 will be fully protected at the agreed rates by Elite and its sales team, Sandals said. Grand Pineapple Negril remains
a part of Sandals and will not be impacted by the sale. The news comes as Sandals chairman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart was reported to have toured Tobago to view potential new hotels. Local media said Stewart was accompanied by island officials including the minister of tourism, Shamfa Cudjoe.
Royal Caribbean’s new ship, Ovation of the Seas, is due to be completed earlier than planned, giving UK customers an additional sailing. A new three- night inaugural cruise will sail from Southampton on April 14 on a round-trip to the Netherlands. The sailing is in addition to two other European cruises already on sale. The ship will then sail to its home port in Tianjin, China.
British Airways takes top spot in Superbrands list
British Airways has been ranked as the most-loved brand in Britain for the third year running. The airline beat Apple, John Lewis and Google in the annual Consumer Superbrands list by The Centre for Brand Analysis. Virgin Atlantic came 17th. Abta, Sandals, Thomas Cook and Heathrow also made the list.
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