NEWS ROUND-UP NEWS IN BRIEF


Gatwick stake bought by Vinci Airports for £2.9bn


French operator Vinci Airports is to acquire a 50.01% stake in Gatwick for £2.9 billion, making it the majority owner of the UK’s second-busiest airport. Gatwick suffered three days of disruption due to drone sightings before Christmas, affecting 140,000 passengers.


Tui rebuts TV documentary’s criticism of its discounts


Tui said a Channel 4 television documentary criticising its online discounts was “not representative” of its pricing. Supershoppers, which screened the ‘Sales Special’ episode on December 28, repeated three days later, analysed what it described as “mysterious” Tui discount offers and claimed seven out of 10 cost more than the brochure price. Tui said the show featured a “very small sample” and that prices were correct when they went to print.


Fred Olsen plans for future as Rodwell and Evans retire


Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is to appoint two new bosses this year to replace long-serving managing director Mike Rodwell and head of sales Mike Evans. Rodwell and Evans have worked for the company almost 60 years between them and are due to retire in August and April, respectively. The line has also created a dedicated river cruise sales role, taken up been by former affinity sales manager Keith Norman.


Kelly to take up Ireland role at Princess Cruises


MSC Cruises’ Irish head of sales Rebecca Kelly is to join Princess Cruises in the newly-created position of senior sales manager for Ireland. Kelly, who was promoted by MSC in May after 10 years with the European line, will start with Princess on March 18.  Cruise news, page 30


COMMENT: “The travel industry is in prime position to ride the wave as wellbeing becomes mainstream”Steve Dunne, page 32


Bedsonline offers an extra 3% commission in peaks


Lee Hayhurst lee.hayhurst@travelweekly.co.uk


Bedsonline is offering an extra 3% commission on all bookings at the start of the 2019 peaks as it looks to ease trade partners’ transition to the bed bank brand.


GTA brands including


TravelCube were integrated into Bedsonline in the autumn following parent company Hotelbeds Group’s acquisition of GTA in April 2017. By the end of January, all the


GTA booking platforms will close, including TravelCube, which is currently branded ‘Bedsonline brought to you by TravelCube’. Prior to the integration, Bedsonline had 20,000 agent clients worldwide and GTA had 26,000 but there was “minimal duplication”, said Alistair Rodger, Bedsonline’s retail director. Rodger said the decision to consolidate the brands under Bedsonline was made because of its “market-leading” technology and breadth of product. The 3% commission boost is available until January 17. It is


Andrew Dickson awarded MBE for services to Bolton


St Andrews Travel Group founder Andrew Dickson has been appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list. Dickson started his travel agency business in 1983 and ran it for 25 years. He served on Abta’s council for 10 years, representing the independent agency sector. He received the MBE for his outstanding contribution to business in Bolton and services


8travelweekly.co.uk3 January 2019 34


Number of search filters on Bedsonline


and travel dates,” said Rodger. “This is a massive investment.


We genuinely believe by doing this we are investing in the long-term.” Bedsonline offers 170,000


hotels, 18,000 activities and 24,000 transfer routes. t ao a  fiter aowin


TWO INTO ONE: The transition from TravelCube to Bedsonline is due this month. Top: Alistair Rodger


available to trade partners who work on a commission basis with Bedsonline. Trade partners who work on net rates are in individual discussions about their deals. “The message is this is a no-


strings-attached campaign offering an incremental 3% commission on all destinations worldwide


agents to search based on points of interest, compared with raebe eit fiter. Rodger conceded some UK


agents will feel a loyalty to TravelCube, but added: “As we get people to move to Bedsonline they will say ‘Wow, it’s such an upgrade’.” Hotelbeds remains the group’s


wholesale brand, providing accommodation and other travel services to over 60,000 intermediaries, including airlines, operators and online travel agencies. It has around 3,000 registered UK agents.


with more than 100 volunteers. He said: “I am absolutely thrilled


to receive this award and I will never forget that I’ve only achieved what I’ve achieved in life due to the fantastic team of people.” When he sold St Andrews, it


DICKSON: ‘I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award’


to the wider Bolton community. Dickson was one of the founders of the 96.5 Bolton FM community radio station and has helped run it


employed 75 staff, turned over in excess of £25 million and was the largest independent travel agency in the northwest of England. Dickson has continued to work in the industry through his sales


training businessThe Wow Factor.  Richard Stephenson, the CAA’s communications director, was awarded an OBE for his public and charitable service.


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