NEWS TRAVEL WEEKLY BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM THE BACK
is having a tough time – we’ve seen many shop closures and online taking a lot of that share. “But I still see a big opportunity for agents to sell differentiated holidays that are more specialised and harder to sell, serve and book online. The way I see it as an operator is that a consumer goes to a travel agent for choice and advice. It’s important to offer choice.” Hotelplan’s escorted
adventure tour specialist, Explore Worldwide, is joining industry body the Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers, believing agents can help grow that sector as they have done in cruise. Nicky Spoor, head of tax at accountancy firm White Hart Associates, predicted the high street will evolve as retailers work together to offer a more diverse and entertaining shopping experience. But she said the gulf between
affluent and non-affluent areas will widen. “The high street, as we historically know it, I do not think is going to exist.” Jaymin Borkhatria, sales
director at Southall Travel, said: “There is a future for the high street, especially for firms selling complex itineraries and package holidays, but online and over the phone will take more share.” Nick Cooper, director of
Villa Plus, said: “It’s going to be very challenging for high street leisure agents. I don’t see why anyone needs to go to the high street. They may go to get advice, but will they book?” Olly Brendon, chief executive
of ATD Travel Services, said: “I don’t know a single person who has been in a high street agency; however, the evidence suggests the good ones are thriving.” Brendon said to prosper, high
street agents needed a diverse strategy including e-commerce and call centre channels.
Barclays Travel Forum preview: Lawyers and industry bosses atte
Lawyer brands CAA’s Atol proposals a ‘power grab’
Proposals to reform how the Civil Aviation Authority regulates package holiday sales are a “power grab”, according to a leading industry lawyer.
Stephen Mason, senior partner
at Travlaw, said “It’s almost not like they [the CAA] want to regulate the industry, it’s like they want to run the industry”. A consultation on changes to agency terms that will be brought in under the new EU Package Travel Directive ended last week. They include changes not
required under the PTD that will increase CAA scrutiny and give it new civil sanctions including fines that can be imposed on Atol-holders. Mason listed a number of areas
he was concerned about which he said will place greater burdens on Atol-holders and increase red tape. These included a new
requirement for firms to name the airline in advertising and report any material changes in their
New package rules ‘lower barriers to overseas markets’
Experts agreed that one of the main opportunities of the latest reform of package travel laws in Europe is for firms looking to break into overseas markets. The new Package Travel Directive
means travel firms will be able to trade in other European Economic Area countries under regulations of the country where they are based. Martin Alcock, director of The
Travel Trade Consultancy, said the barriers to entry for UK firms looking to grow in international
70
travelweekly.co.uk 3 May 2018
MASON: ‘It’s almost like [the CAA] wants to run the industry’
businesses, and small Atol-holders to report more frequently. Mason also questioned why
there needs to be three types of Atol Certificate, with Flight-Plus becoming a Package Holiday Multiple Contract despite offering the same protection as a package. “Why make it difficult for consumers? They just want to know if they have bought a
markets will be “significantly lowered”. “For the first time there will be
a really easy way to dip your toes into European markets without having all the costs of establishing businesses there,” he said. Although there are
opportunities in the latest reforms, Alcock warned the sector feels “browbeaten” by continual regulatory change, meaning firms have become more “reactive”. “They feel they are permanently
in a state of regulatory flux,” he said. Nikki Spoor, head of tax at White
Hart Associates, said firms were struggling to prepare for the new PTD and EU GDPR data rules amid a lack of clarity and legal advice.
ALCOCK: ‘Really easy way to dip your toes into European markets’
package or not,” he said. Mason said there were lots of
positives in the reforms, including a clearer definition of what is a package. But he added: “They have slipped all this other stuff in to the package travel reform when it’s nothing to do with the PTD. I hope lots of firms and organisations have raised objections.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82
