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Platt seeks funds for ‘schools’ fight


Juliet Dennis juliet.dennis@travelweekly.co.uk


A dad who won a landmark legal battle on term-time holidays is appealing for financial support from individuals in the trade to fight a government-backed appeal.


Jon Platt (pictured) won


his case in May, when the High Court ruled he did not have to pay a £120 fine to the Isle of Wight Council because his daughter attended school ‘regularly’.


Since then, the council,


backed by the Department for Education, has filed an application for permission to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. Platt, a dad of three, has until


the end of September to respond, and has set up a JustGiving page to raise £30,000 to cover legal costs. If he loses the case, he could


face costs of up to £100,000. As Travel Weekly went to press, he had raised £6,615, but he now hopes to draw support from individuals in the industry. He has contacted Tui and Virgin


Holidays to publicise his case, but admitted: “I don’t want to be seen as a puppet of the industry; people may be able to donate as individuals.” Jon Platt makes bold claims


that the industry could be one of the “biggest losers financially” if the government wins, by making unauthorised school absence a criminal offence. He believes this “draconian measure” would lead to a dramatic drop in term- time family breaks. Platt, who does not


believe the industry is profiteering from holiday prices, added:


“The travel industry is walking


into a potential nightmare. There is a very real threat to jobs in the industry if all that demand is removed in term time. There will not be the capacity [to meet demand] in the school holidays.” An Abta spokeswoman said


Abta was in “active” contact with government to lobby for school holidays to be staggered by region. To support Platt, log on to:


tinyurl.com/jonplatt. ›What do you think? Email


editorial@travelweekly.co.uk


Agency targets LGBT community


Amie Keeley amie.keeley@travelweekly.co.uk


A south London agency which is setting up its own LGBT brand says it will be one of the first to actively offer gay-friendly holidays in-store.


Balham-based Travel Designers


will launch Escapes By Travel Designers next month. Director Nick Harding-McKay and colleague James Whitaker- Sheppard will share their personal experiences of LGBT‑friendly destinations and will tailor holidays to suit travellers looking for safe and welcoming environments. “We understand people from


that sector require different things from their holiday and don’t want to be scared asking for a double bed,” Harding-McKay said. “We can highlight areas that are safe to travel to and I can give first‑hand experience of suitable destinations.” Harding-McKay said the brand


Platt is fighting for parents to have the right to take kids on holiday in term time


would target LGBT travellers who had “settled down” and were looking for some luxury, not those who want the “party scene”. Escapes will work with the


“People from this sector don’t want to be scared asking for a double bed”


agency’s existing operator partners such as Kuoni, Club Med and Classic Collection and will handpick LGBT‑friendly holidays. The agency is also in talks with hoteliers and operators to include new product. The brand will be promoted in the shop window and Whitaker- Sheppard will be the dedicated agent in-store selling the brand. The agency is also recruiting for


a business development manager who will be tasked with marketing Escapes out in the community. Harding-McKay said: “The days


of being a general agent on the high street aren’t looking too good and you have to go out there and look at a niche product to stay relevant.” He added that the location


of Travel Designers was ideally placed to launch Escapes, with offical statistics suggesting the borough of Lambeth, where the agency is based, has one of the largest gay populations in the UK.


18 August 2016 travelweekly.co.uk 5 3 STORIES HOT


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