NEWS ROUND-UP NEWS IN BRIEF
Isle of Wight Council to appeal Jon Platt ruling
The Isle of Wight Council is to appeal after losing a High Court case against Jon Platt, the father who was fined for taking his daughter on holiday in term-time. Platt was let off the £120 fine last month, and is helping other parents claim refunds for fines. The council is appealing after the government agreed to pay legal fees. Schools minister Nick Gibbs has told headteachers to ignore the Platt ruling amid fears it would cause widespread confusion. › Comment, page 36
Tui UK recruits Mark Bather as retail director
Tui UK & Ireland has appointed Mark Bather as retail director. Bather joins from telecoms giant 02 and succeeds ex-Tui retail boss Jill Carter who has moved to Thomson Airways. In charge of more than 600 Thomson shops, Bather will report to Helen Caron, who recently took on the expanded role of cruise and distribution director.
Ryanair seeks partner for own accommodation site
Ryanair is to sell accommodation under its own Ryanair Rooms brand from October. The airline has invited interested providers to tender to become its official hotels, hostels and villas partner. › Talk Back, page 23
COMMENT: “Staggering school holidays would go some way to flattening the peaks and troughs” Mark Tanzer, page 36
Kuoni targets indie agents with ambassador scheme
Juliet Dennis
juliet.dennis@
travelweekly.co.uk
Kuoni has introduced an ‘ambassador’ scheme for independent agents as part of a bid to re-engage and build trust with the wider trade.
The move follows a restructure
of how Kuoni deals with agents and the appointment of Brad Bennetts in the new role of national sales manager in April. “We have been looking at how
we can develop relationships with agents and address some of the concerns agents may have about the expansion of Kuoni’s own high street network,” said Bennetts. “We are re-engaging with consortia and looking at how we can support the trade further.” The ambassador scheme aims
to improve knowledge of agents who are not Kuoni partners and to build a network of ambassadors, initially in the southeast. The first batch of Kuoni Ambassadors, from Baldwins Travel (pictured), spent a day at the operator’s Dorking head office this week to learn about the brand, product, new tours and ways of working together. Bennetts added: “The idea is to get one sales consultant from each
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Mercury refunds £22k to clients who faced last-minute price hikes
Mercury Holidays is refunding eight bookings amounting to more than £22,000 after agents hit out at hefty last-minute price hikes. Last week Travel Weekly reported that a number of agents had been told their clients – and in some
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travelweekly.co.uk 16 June 2016
PARTNERS: The first Kuoni Ambassadors meet the operator’s Brad Bennetts and Katie Daniels (front left) at its Dorking headquarters
Bennetts said the recent
“We are re-engaging with consortia and looking at how to help the trade further”
store. They will have a full day’s training on product and brand, and receive a certificate. “By the end of it they should
have an emotional link to Kuoni.” The operator aims to train
about 30 ambassadors by the end of this year and up to 80 next year.
cases themselves – would have to pay hundreds more for bookings made months ago due to a “pricing issue”, or face cancellation. Kelly Westerman, of The
Holiday Crew in Leeds, cancelled her booking for Mauritius after Mercury informed her alternative flights were needed and would cost up to £1,000 more. The operator said it was human
error that led to her flights being “drastically” underpriced.
restructure had been well-received. It has led to a smaller call centre at head office, with a hub service for partner agents, while Kuoni’s own agents now answer calls from other independent agents. Some agents have even begun to establish relationships with Kuoni agents themselves as a result of the changes and the fact there is price parity across all channels, according to Bennetts. “Agents have visited local Kuoni shops and I am encouraging that,” he said.
But last Thursday, Richard
Greenaway, national sales manager for Mercury Holidays and Sunspot Tours, said eight bookings connected to this issue were being refunded. “This amounts to more than £22,000 – a loss we have incurred to show our goodwill to our partners and clients,” he said. Greenaway said an “appropriate
outcome is being reached” for a tour that was cancelled due to not achieving minimum numbers.
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