NEWS — HOT STORIES 4
Josephides prepares to fight proposal for a ‘cooling off period’ to be added to the PTD
“It seems the [proposal for a] cooling off period has come back with a vengeance; both committees have asked for a 24-hour cooling off period,” he said. “But it wouldn’t work, and we are fighting it again.” The proposal would allow holidaymakers to cancel their holiday within 24 hours of booking. Abta argues this is unrealistic. The second proposal is for agents to take on liability in addition to operators when something goes wrong on a holiday. In France, agents already take responsibility.
Josephides said: “This would mean agents would Juliet Dennis
Abta has vowed to redouble its efforts to fight proposed changes to the draft Package Travel Directive after MEPs again called for the addition of a “cooling off” period for holiday buyers, and for agents to take on tour operator liability. Chairman Noel Josephides told attendees at the Aito Agents domestic conference that the two issues had returned “with a vengeance”. Abta last month sought to fend off these potential additions by hosting a meeting in Brussels with the two European Parliament committees in charge of the legislation. Josephides said both committees had since called for the issues to be included.
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be jointly responsible. This could happen because other countries have it; this will take a lot of fighting.” Last July, the publication of the proposed EU
reforms for the directive made it clear agents would not have to take on extra operator liabilities, nor would there be a cooling off period. Victoria Bacon, Abta’s head of communications,
“The cooling off plan is back with a vengeance, but it wouldn’t work”
said: “These are just proposals at this stage. There is a long way to go, but we have to keep the pressure on. It’s definitely not a time to be complacent.” The directive is not likely to come into force until 2017, while MEP elections take place this May.
Spear Travels targets 15 shops in five years Juliet Dennis
but so far we have found the money ourselves. “We have a decent, six-figure war chest, but we are
Spear Travels aims to expand its high street chain to 15 branches within five years and take on a further 10 homeworkers. The Yorkshire-based independent agency has just increased the size of its network to nine branches after buying Wolverhampton-based Roy Cox Travel. It is poised to unveil a further acquisition in North Yorkshire in the next two months. Managing director Peter Cookson said the company had a six-figure war chest and would consider buying a miniple if it fitted its criteria. Cookson, who bought the agency with
wife Libby and co-owner Derek Adams in 2007, said: “We are open to offers from sellers. We have been given money by the bank to further our expansion
6 •
travelweekly.co.uk — 16 January 2014
very sensible and prudent with our acquisitions.” Spear Travels expects the acquisition of Roy Cox
Travel to increase its anticipated turnover in 2014 to about £15 million for the first time. Spear Travels, established in 1983, employs 45 staff at branches in Helmsley, Leyburn, Northallerton, Stokesley and Boroughbridge in Yorkshire as well as in Stoke, Wolverhampton and Upminster. It focuses on top-end, long-haul
and tailor-made holidays. The agency also has 15 self-employed homeworkers and plans to recruit a further 10 this year, said Cookson. Homeworkers are
paid 70% of the commission they earn. Spear Travels is investing £80,000 in a new website, email service, IT upgrade and rebrand.
MORE HOT STORIES
Josephides: ‘This will take a lot of fighting’
“We have a decent war
chest but we are prudent with purchases”
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