NEWS ROUND-UP


COMMENT: “We are on a journey to make life easier for the customer to book adventure travel by using great technology and great people” Chris Roche, page 30


Wowcher targets travel by recruiting Zvinakevicius


Lucy Huxley lucy.huxley@travelweekly.co.uk


Daily deals site Wowcher has recruited former Carnival Cruise Line marketing manager Lucy Zvinakevicius to lead its international travel team.


Zvinakevicius has been brought


in to grow Wowcher’s travel business by signing new partners. Speaking exclusively to Travel


Weekly, Zvinakevicius said: “We have 17 million subscribers in the UK, and 4.3 million who have clicked through to say they want travel emails. But it’s never really been promoted. “We believe we can get much


better engagement with the travel trade, especially when suppliers and agents realise the demographics of our audience.” Zvinakevicius said 32% of subscribers were aged between 18-34, 48% between 35-54 and the rest over 55. She added that 82% of travel


deals were purchased through the Wowcher website and 18% via the mobile app. Travel offers are categorised


Cook to slash plastic use with campaign #noplaceforplastic


Thomas Cook has pledged to slash the use of plastic across its airlines and resorts, vowing to remove 70 million single-use plastics over the next 12 months. Cook’s #noplaceforplastic campaign plans to eliminate single- use plastic “wherever possible” and educate employees and customers to make more “sustainable choices”. But the operator admits it


won’t be able to rid its resorts of


CRUSH: Cook’s plan includes creating new items from plastic


single-use plastic altogether. Refillable water bottles will be


introduced at hotels, and plastic cups and plates will be replaced with natural alternatives in 2019.


10 travelweekly.co.uk 8 November 2018


“Jetline has achieved 10% growth every year. It works for them and could work for others”


into European city breaks, beach holidays, long-haul and cruise, and sports and adventure. Zvinakevicius revealed Jetline


was currently Wowcher’s biggest travel partner and said it had seen gross revenue growth through the site of 12% in 2017, compared with the previous year. “Jetline has been working with Wowcher since 2012 and has


achieved more than 10% growth every year. It works for them and could work for many more agents and suppliers,” she said. Zvinakevicius said December and January were the site’s top-selling months for travel. “People come on looking for a Christmas present. They are not even looking for a holiday but often end up buying one as the deals are so good,” she said. Wowcher works by partners suggesting deals to the site. Deals don’t have to be exclusive, but have to reach a certain discount price. Wowcher takes commission if a booking is made. If the deal doesn’t sell, the partner doesn’t pay.


Cook also plans to turn


discarded and broken plastic inflatables left by holidaymakers into bags and accessories, with the help of designers Wyatt and Jack. Cook expects the campaign


to cut the equivalent of 3,500 suitcases of single-use plastic items from its resorts and aircraft before December next year. Group corporate affairs director Alice Macandrew said: “As the leading travel company, we have the ability and the responsibility to impact change. If we do not step up and tackle this issue, how can we expect others to do anything?”


NEW START:


Zvinakevicius has joined Wowcher to bring in new partners


NEWS IN BRIEF


Kuoni parent Der Touristik buys Journey Latin America


Journey Latin America has been acquired by Kuoni parent Der Touristik UK for an undisclosed sum. Managing director Sarah Bradley will remain in place and report to Francis Torrilla, managing director of Der Touristik UK’s specialist division. › Talk Back, page 19


Affordable settles US legal dispute with Avis Budget


Car rental broker Affordable Car Hire has reached an out-of-court settlement with Avis Budget Group, ending a long-running legal dispute in the US. Avis initiated proceedings in early 2017 over monthly invoices, while Affordable issued a counterclaim over confidentiality.


Stewart completes MBO and buys Canterbury Travel


Stewart Travel has completed a management buyout and acquired Lapland specialist Canterbury Travel. The transactions are worth a combined £23 million and were backed by private equity investor Zachary Asset Holdings, with HSBC providing £12.75 million. › SPAA Awards, page 12


Jason Kemp joins Saga Travel’s trade sales team


Saga Travel has appointed Jason Kemp from Balkan Holidays as regional sales manager for Scotland and Northern Ireland, taking its regional sales team to six. Kemp joins Saga’s trade team on November 26 after six years at Balkan, where he was regional sales manager. Kemp has worked in travel for 20 years.


Family Holiday Association chief McDonald is leaving


The Family Holiday Association’s chief executive, John McDonald, who joined in 2001, has announced he is leaving at the end of the year. The charity is seeking a replacement.


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