NEWS TRAVEL CONVENTION 2016


Ronan Keating was the star guest at the convention’s gala dinner, courtesy of Etihad Airways


Nick Longman


Travel firms come round to merits of apprentice levy


Leading travel companies have agreed to embrace a new government apprenticeship levy having previously been sceptical about the costs and benefits.


All companies with a payroll


of more than £3 million will contribute 0.5% of their wage bill in the form of a levy from April 6 to support apprenticeships. Smaller companies will receive


government support to limit their costs, depending on their size. While some final details still


needed fine-tuning, speakers at a special Travel Weekly Business Breakfast voiced their backing for the initiative, which will give more firms access to funding for apprenticeships. Tui UK and Ireland managing


director Nick Longman said the company’s concerns had been addressed and it would be taking on 2,000 apprentices. The levy scheme was previously


unavailable to seasonal workers such as cabin crew but that has al- tered, making it a “great opportu- nity” for people of all ages, he said. Hays Travel managing director


Andy Freeth, managing director


“The travel industry has not done a great job in raising awareness in schools”


John Hays also admitted to having reservations but said he now sees it in a positive light. The agency group took on 150


apprentices this summer and plans to add similar numbers over the next two years.


of Travel 2 and Gold Medal, said the dnata-owned B2B businesses did not run apprenticeships but its consumer-facing brands recruit college-leavers. Panellists called on the travel industry to be more proactive in promoting the diverse nature of the sector to job seekers of all ages. Longman added: “The industry has not done a great job in raising awareness in schools. “People don’t understand the types of careers available.”


Industry ‘lagging in digital take-up’


The travel industry was accused of under-performing in its use of digital technology. Etihad Airways chief executive Peter Baumgartner made the


charge while outlining a multimillion-dollar strategy by the airline to harness the digital revolution. The carrier is working with IT giants such as Sabre, IBM and Adobe on the project to create new ways to connect with passengers. “The digital guest journey is the next wave of innovation through the wider digital revolution,” he said. “The industry as a whole has underperformed in this area. Technology is the area that offers the next opportunity for great leaps forward.”


News in brief from the Travel Convention 2016


w A performance-monitoring app that tracks agent conversion rates was unveiled by Reality Training. The Sales Tracker allows a user to log customers they convert as well as those they don’t. The app is available to download for iOS from the App Store.


w Tui UK & Ireland is starting long-haul winter packages to Vietnam for 2017-18 but is withdrawing fly-cruises from Dubai. The Thomson and First Choice owner will offer 14-night all-inclusive stays on the island of Phu Quoc. It is also adding Saint Lucia and Cuba’s Cayo Santa Maria to its long-haul winter range.


w Details of a new beach resort island in Abu Dhabi due to open this winter were revealed to delegates during a tour of the emirate’s new cruise terminal. Celebrity Cruises makes its debut in the emirate next month to coincide with the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Celebrity Constellation running five departures.


16 travelweekly.co.uk 20 October 2016


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