On the Beach tips eco requirements Ian Taylor


Investment in sustainability and its accreditation will become a minimum requirement for everyone operating in travel, according to On the Beach Group chief executive Shaun Morton. He reported that On the Beach


has partnered with sustainable certification platform and consultancy Bioscore to identify hotels that meet Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) accreditation standards. Speaking as he revealed full-year


results for the 12 months to September, Morton said Bioscore judged 37% of the online agency’s 5,000 top-selling hotels and 44% of its top 500 to meet GSTC standards and added: “We’re engaging with


hotels to encourage them to qualify for accreditation. “This is going to become


‘table stakes’ for everyone. Our challenge has been whether there is a hallmark standard?” Morton noted that the GSTC


has a single set of criteria for sustainability certification schemes and said: “Customers are increasingly recognising sustainability and regulators will push us. It’s absolutely the right thing to do.” On the Beach recently won a


High Court case against Ryanair and was awarded more than £2 million in refunds for flights cancelled during the first few months of the Covid-19 pandemic (Travel Weekly, November 9). The landmark ruling confirmed the right of package organisers “to


EC proposes major changes to Package Travel Directive


Ian Taylor


Changes to the European Package Travel Directive and a revision of passengers’ rights announced by the EC contrast with more-limited reforms proposed in the UK. The EC proposes not just to clarify


the rules on linked travel arrangements (LTAs), as the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is seeking in its Call for Evidence on package travel reform launched in September. The EC has also proposed the


addition of business-to-business refunds in the event of cancellations, meaning airlines would be required to


6 7 DECEMBER 2023


refund package operators within seven days of a cancelled flight or where a “relevant service is not provided”. A new article on vouchers


specifies “when a contract is terminated, organisers may issue travellers with vouchers instead of a cash refund, [provided the traveller is] informed they are not obliged to accept the voucher” and can still insist on a refund within 14 days. The EC notes: “Organisers


would be able to offer vouchers as an alternative to a refund, subject to complying with specific guarantees.” The revised directive also clarifies that “official travel warnings issued


by authorities or serious restrictions covering the travel destination or after returning are important in assessing whether unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances have arisen”, entitling the traveller to a full refund. By contrast, the DBT’s most


significant proposals include the removal of UK domestic packages from the regulations and of packages below a certain price threshold. Abta director of public affairs


Luke Petherbridge described the UK proposals as falling between a “tidying up” of the regulations and


“trumpeting the benefits of Brexit”. Last month, DBT assistant director


for partnerships and consumer policy Craig Belshaw told an Abta Travel Regulations Conference: “We have the powers to make amendments or to write entirely new legislation. “Should we have the power to


change the 14-day requirement to refund if certain conditions apply . . . [and] is regulation 29, where a travel organiser can seek compensation from a supplier for refunding a customer,


sufficiently clarified?” i Business, page 56


travelweekly.co.uk Customers


are increasingly recognising sustainability and regulators will push us


seek redress” from suppliers for cancellations under the Package Travel Regulations. Morton confirmed On the Beach


is pursuing Ryanair for payment of “a similar amount of money” for outstanding refunds. Ryanair has been denied an


appeal by the High Court judge in the case, but has until December 11 to seek leave to appeal direct to the Court of Appeal. On the Beach handled transactions


worth more than £1 billion for the first time in the 12 months to September 30 and reported a pre- tax profit of almost £13 million on revenue of £170 million. Morton hailed “an all-round good


result” and said: “We’re very pleased with the order book for next summer. We’re seeing momentum carry on through the winter and into next year. “Long-haul is the fastest-growing


part of our business and we expect more good growth in that. People are more and more willing to book that type of holiday online.” However, he said: “The highest


potential growth is in mainstream holidays offered through travel agents. We have a very small share of that


market. The opportunity is limitless.” i Travel Weekly Sustainability Summit, page 12


PICTURE: Shutterstock/RaffMaster


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