NEWS ROUND-UP
Aito urges PM not to pursue ‘nuclear no-deal Brexit’
Directors from Aito, Te Specialist Travel Association, have writen to the new prime minister calling for support for small and medium- sized tour operators and warning against a “nuclear” no-deal Brexit. In a leter to Boris Johnson,
chairman Derek Moore and director of industry issues Noel Josephides have asked for a meeting with the PM. Tey point out that Aito operators’ £1 billion annual sales generate “a considerable amount of tax” and the association’s members employ 3,500 people. Aito has more than 120
independent operator members, 100-plus affiliated agents and 75 business partners and tourist boards. Calling on Johnson to protect
Aito members and the industry at large, the leter stated: “We need to know from you what the prospects are for the travel industry, especially the specialist sector in which Aito sits. A no-deal Brexit will simply increase prices for all those travelling to Europe. “We urge you to think anew. Yes,
we know Brexit is your key aim – but does it have to be a no-deal Brexit and to cause so much collateral
damage and pain to so many?” i Do you agree with Aito’s attempt to avert a no-deal Brexit? Email
editorial@travelweekly.co.uk
Whaley Bridge agent houses three evacuees
Harry Kemble
A Travel Counsellors agent has given shelter to three people told to evacuate their homes in Whaley Bridge amid fears the dam above the town could collapse. Residents were ordered by police
to evacuate their homes last week as emergency repairs were made to the damaged dam to stop the Derbyshire town from flooding. Dawn Broome, who has been
with homeworking firm Travel Counsellors for 18 years, took in three people and two cats. Her home is a four-minute walk from the reservoir but is located on a hill. Broome said: “If that dam does
collapse, it will flood the town. On Tursday, it was very much ‘let’s get people sorted’. Everyone always pulls together here [in Whaley Bridge]. “I am currently sharing my office
with a 22-year-old cat called Mog, who is an evacuee. But there is no way this will stop me doing my job.” Despite taking in three people,
Broome managed to finalise a Philippines itinerary for one client and draw up two quotes last Tursday. “I’ve had so many messages from customers, which has been amazing,”
Reserve A Hotel drops claim
after Abreu settles out of court A Cheshire-based agency has settled its dispute with a bed bank out of court after a client’s booking for Jumeirah Al Naseem hotel in Dubai was cancelled at short notice. Reserve A Hotel sought compensation of £3,000 for the cancelled booking, plus costs, from Portuguese bed bank Abreu. Reserve A Hotel has now received an undisclosed sum from Abreu to cover the claim and costs, and has dropped its legal claim for compensation made on July 2.
8 8 AUGUST 2019
Whaley Bridge dam; inset, Travel Counsellors’ Dawn Broome
If the dam does
collapse, it will flood the town. On Thursday, it was very much ‘let’s get people sorted’
she said. “Tey have been so caring. My customers come from all over the country. I even had one message from a couple who are on holiday in Greece asking how I am.” Emergency services have been working round-the-clock to reduce
the water level in the Toddbrook Reservoir. Authorities will not allow the
1,500 people evacuated to return home until the reservoir has been drained to 25% of its capacity. On Monday, firefighters
said crews needed to spend at least two more days pumping water from the reservoir before it was safe. Broome added: “We are all
humbled by the military and emergency services.” Two of the evacuees were still
staying at Broome’s house at the start of this week.
Not Just Travel trek team aims
to raise £50k for charity Mind A 53-strong team of Not Just Travel consultants and staff will be trekking 93 miles to the ‘lost city’ of Ciudad Perdida in Colombia in October to raise money for mental health charity Mind. The team has committed to raise at least £50,000 for the charity in the wake of Not Just Travel co-founder Steve Witt’s brother and business partner Robin being diagnosed with dementia, aged 42. Donate at:
bit.ly/NJTtrek.
PayingTooMuch closes travel
agency business in Chichester Travel insurance specialist PayingTooMuch has closed its call centre-based travel agency business in Chichester after two-and-a-half years. Managing director Michael Ward blamed a Brexit-induced flat market for the closure. He said he had spent about £125,000 on the cruise- focused agency since launch. PayingTooMuch has also closed its Brighton office and merged its insurance-dedicated call centres, bringing all staff to Chichester.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Reuters/Phil Noble
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