Travel News August 2020
TRAVEL TRADE NEWS 27
CREDIT NOTE REFUND PROTECTION ANNOUNCEMENT WILL HELP REBUILD TRAVELLER CONFIDENCE
TOL-protected holidaymakers will be able to book with confidence following a Government move to protect refund credit notes offered if packages are cancelled as a result of COVID-19. The change, which will apply to package holidays including a flight, will mean passengers who accept vouchers for cancelled holidays as a result of COVID-19 will be protected by the ATOL scheme if necessary – even if the company they have booked with later collapses. Following this news, Julia Lo Bue-Said, CEO at Advantage Travel Partnership said: “We very much welcome the long awaited announcement from Government to protect refund credit notes offered
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Plans for Tourism Recovery THE Latin American Travel Association (LATA) has hosted the first instalment in a new series which sees Latin American destinations give an update on the current status of the coronavirus pandemic and unveil their plans for tourism recovery. In this first edition representatives from Belize, Colombia and Nicaragua revealed their developments. Director of Marketing & Industry Relations at Belize Tourism Board, Misty Michael, provided an update on the Central American nation’s five- phase recovery plan which will see phase three begin on 15th August 2020. Michael stated that as part of phase three Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) would resume operations and a “Tourism Safe Corridor” would be established which will see limited reopening of approved hotels offering full-service amenities. These hotels are to be approved according to Belize’s “Gold Standard Recognition Programme” in line with the country’s health and safety protocols. Michael commented: “the Gold Standard Recognition Programme seeks to enhance tourism health and safety standards by adapting new behaviours and procedures to protect employees and travellers.” She also noted that Belize’s management of the virus has spurred new interest in the destination for longer stays and tourism investment. Procolombia’s UK Executive Director, Jose Puyana, stated: “Colombia is focused on the recovery of the tourism
if ATOL protected package holidays are cancelled as a result of COVID-19. This important move will certainly help to rebuild confidence in the industry which was severely damaged due to many passengers having to endure long waits for refunds as the pandemic hit. “Even as the world begins to slowly reopen its doors,
travel anywhere will remain an uncertain and complex experience, so it is vital that consumers can start to plan a holiday in the full knowledge they are protected if they cannot travel due to COVID-19 related issues. “To help consumers navigate their way through
new airport and destination protocols, new health requirements and a different type of holiday experience
Belize, Colombia and Nicaragua Reveal
industry with tangible results such as being the first country with a Bio-security stamp endorsed by UNWTO, reducing sales tax for airplane tickets from 19% to 5%, and working hand in hand with the tourism industry in Colombia to make sure they adapt to the new trends that the pandemic has created and continue to offer excellent services.” It is apparent that Colombia’s recovery strategy puts an emphasis on helping the sector be prepared for the ‘new normal’ brought about by the pandemic and building a trust that ultimately encourages the return of its international tourists. Puyana also touched on the importance of adapting to a new digital industry and highlighted Procolombia’s emphasis on digital promotion which has seen them pick up the Webby People’s Voice Award as the best tourism website in the world; a welcome recognition during a challenging period for the industry. Ana Carolina Garcia, Director of Promotion and Market Development for Nicaragua’s Tourism Institute (INTUR) highlighted the importance of training and skill development. “From January to June we had organised 152 digital workshops, training a total amount of 3,440 local businessowners, 1,382 men and 2,058 women, owners of restaurants, hotels and tourist guides.” Additionally, Nicaragua has introduced a host of new measures to keep its visitors safe including biosecurity protocols, disinfection of public spaces, mobile clinics throughout the country,
NORWEGIAN Cruise Line has announced the appointment of Scott Dahnke to its Board of Directors as a new independent director, effective July 14, 2020. “It is my pleasure to welcome Scott to our Board of Directors,”
said Russell W. Galbut, chairman of the Board. “Scott’s extensive experience partnering with and building leading consumer brands over multiple decades will be invaluable to our Board.”
Etihad Airways Launches New
Distribution Capability
we have created a check list for our travel agent members to ensure that consumers are fully informed and know before they go. The check list ensures the travel agent covers off all destination requirements for entry as well as reminds customers to review their insurance policies to ensure they are currently fit for purpose. “Since the recent announcement of a number of quarantine free countries, we have seen an encouraging uplift in bookings. We do urge consumers not to panic buy holidays, to chat through every aspect of their holiday experience with a travel agent who will ensure they know what to expect and have the holiday they deserve.”
Ethiopian Airlines Appoint ASM-Ireland as their Trade Representative in
the Irish Market ETHIOPIAN Airlines, the largest and most profitable airline on the African continent, is delighted to announce ASM-Ireland as their trade representative for the Irish market. Michael Yohannes, Country Director for the UK and
Ireland, said: “We are delighted to announce this new partnership. We know the ASM-Ireland team is well- regarded and highly respected within the Irish travel industry. Working together with Dagmawi Kefene, Ethiopian’s Traffic and Sales Manager for Ireland, we are confident ASM-Ireland will contribute greatly in supporting our goal to reintroduce Ethiopian’s Dublin service back into the Irish Market. In the interim period, services will operate via European gateways using our Star Alliance partner airlines.” Alan Sparling, Founder and MD of ASM Ireland, commented “We are honoured to be chosen by Ethiopian as their preferred trade representative in the Irish market, and forward to working with our travel agent partners to develop & grow the Ethiopian product.” The direct passenger sales agreement, already in
place with Aviareps, remains unaffected by the new appointment.
Caribbean Hotels Urge
Operators to Pay Upfront SOME top luxury Caribbean hotels are insisting that UK tour operators pay for rooms upfront after being left with unpaid bills during the Covid-19 crisis. Some hotels say they are no longer willing to offer
credit to tour operators as some have yet to pay for guests who stayed during the first quarter of the year, before the travel restrictions were implemented.
300 Redundancies
Belize, Colombia and Nicaragua have revealed their plans for tourism recovery following the global lockdown due to Covid-19
budget increases for the health sector and advanced training for more health workers. Garcia added: “Nicaragua has a lot
to offer in terms of outdoor activities, nature, adventure, rural community tourism and sports activities for social- distance-mindful travellers. We are prepared to receive tourists with safety protocols based on the scientific advice and are proud to count on some of the highest security and safety levels in the region.” Colin Stewart, Chairman of LATA, concludes: “We’re proud to
Norwegian Cruise Line Appoints Scott Dahnke to Board of Directors
“Scott is an ideal candidate and his experience will complement the diverse talents of our existing board members,” said Frank J. Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. “Scott brings strong leadership capabilities and significant
finance, management, and investing expertise, as well as unique insights into the global consumer that he has cultivated during his impressive career.”
ETIHAD Airways has partnered with Travelfusion to provide access for travel agents and corporate clients to Etihad’s content and enhance the sales distribution of tickets and ancillaries. Travelfusion will make use of the airline’s International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) certified NDC platform to provide all relevant booking information such as cabin details, fare rules, baggage allowances, as well as access to book flights.
JORDAN’S award-winning Queen Alia International Airport deploys full suite of airport solutions to prepare for resumption of operations. This will increase flexibility and attract new airlines to boost tourism. Leveraging Jordan’s ideal location as a gateway
between east and west, Queen Alia International Airport in Amman serves as the country’s prime gateway to the world, providing a range of flight and route options. The multiple award-winning terminal was opened in 2013 and operator Airport International Group – a Groupe ADP subsidiary and Jordanian consortium of local and international investors in which Groupe ADP is a majority – is driving a program of modernisation to ensure the airport retains its reputation for delivering excellent customer service. Airport International Group turned to Amadeus
as a strategic partner for a major modernisation of the airport’s systems to deliver a foundation for innovation and the flexibility to react to new market dynamics. The first phase of the implementation has been completed and sees Amman airport use Amadeus technology to achieve maximum efficiency, by integrating airport operations, passenger and baggage services into a single platform. The move sees Airport
International Group launch an agile, internet-enabled, model that can be scaled up, or down, to match fluctuating passenger demand. The implementation was completed during
the COVID-19 lockdown with a local curfew in place, as well as over the month of Ramadan. The ambitious project delivery was possible due to remote collaboration between Airport International Group and Amadeus, and enabled by Amadeus’ flexible cloud technology with a globally dispersed team. Nicolas Claude, Airport International Group
CEO, added: “Our new technology platform gives us the ability to use our data strategically to improve how we operate and deliver better services to our airline partners and passengers. I’m confident our close relationship with Amadeus will give us a strong foundation to prepare for recovery, ensuring we continue to provide the high level of service for which we are committed to.” Waseem Al Rousan, Airport International Group
IT Director, said: Changing these mission critical IT systems will allow our airport to be more flexible as we restart operations at QAIA. The current environment may require us to adapt operations quickly, and our
have launched the first in this new series which will provide our member destinations with a platform to share the hard work that is going on behind the scenes to ensure a safe and sturdy return for international tourism. As Latin American destinations begin to reopen to tourism it is important for us at LATA to communicate the initiatives our members are implementing to reinstall confidence both amongst the travel industry and the end consumer. We look forward to more of these sessions as the region looks towards recovery.”
Malaysia Airlines Launches Joint Business Venture
MALAYSIA Airlines and Japan Airlines have officially announced their planned joint business venture. Launched on July 25, as Malaysia Airlines resumes flights to Japan, the new venture between the airlines offers four weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo Narita.
Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport Teams Up with Amadeus Airport Solutions
partnership with Amadeus gives us the opportunity to expand the services our airport provides to locations outside our terminal building, such as resorts and downtown locations, should the need arise.” Yannick Beunardeau, Vice President Airport IT,
EMEA, Amadeus added: “More than 50 people across Airport International Group and Amadeus, working from all over the world, ensured we met our timelines in this challenging environment. It simply wouldn’t have been possible for us to handle this project if we needed to be extensively on-site fitting out local server rooms and networking equipment. “By deploying our technology, Queen Alia International Airport is taking positive steps in planning for the future when the ability to adapt quickly will be key. As a leading airport, it now has a compelling offer to airlines and it can also benefit from using data to enable continued optimisation of operations as the world begins to travel again.” The second phase of the deployment will be completed by the end of 2020 and will see the implementation of Amadeus’ Altea Departure Control, self-service check-in and e-gates to ease the transit of passengers through the airport.
Confirmed at Saga SAGA has confirmed that around 300 staff are set to be made redundant – Jason Kemp, Regional Manager for Scotland is understood to be among those who have been offered redundancy. In a statement, Saga said: “As part of our ongoing
focus on improving efficiency within the business and against the backdrop of the continued suspension of travel due to Covid-19, we have started a process that will see a number of colleagues leave Saga. “We appreciate this will be a difficult time for all of
our colleagues and are focused on ensuring they receive all the support they need.”
Holiday Extras Begins Job
Consultation Process HOLIDAY Extras has begun a consultation process in line with a new two-year restructuring plan, aiming to make 330 staff redundant. 250 roles at its Head Office in Kent and 80 around
the group business, which includes Airparks, ParkIT, Chauntry and the Holiday Extras team in Germany, are set to go. Group CEO Matthew Pack said: “Holiday Extras
has been in my family for 37 years. Alongside my leadership team, we have worked continuously over the course of the pandemic to ensure that we will come through this downturn. “Unfortunately, today we’ve had to take this very
difficult decision to safeguard the future of the business for our customers and remaining employees. “Our teams and culture are so important to our
success and we’re committed to keeping Holiday Extras a great place to work. “We’ve left no stone unturned in making these extremely tough choices, but we believe we’ve remained true to our values which we will protect for the long- term for our remaining team members, customers and partners alike.”
Shareholders Approve Government
Bailout for Cathay Pacific CATHAY Pacific have received overwhelming support from shareholders, with 99% approval for a government bailout of a proposed HK$39 billion (US$5 billion) package. Cathay Pacific are now set for a reorganisation with
a business overhaul that will take a couple of months. The global Covid-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the new national security law have shown the challenges that airlines are facing in current times. Air China and Qatar Airways are major shareholders
along with Swire Pacific, with all in agreement to the issuance of new shares. The airline say that it is difficult to predict what
will happen in the future but the government package will ease immediate cashflow with a HK$7.8 billion bridging loan.
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