NEWS ROUND-UP


COMMENT: “Focusing on sustainable and responsible travel is high on the agenda at Barrhead Travel” Jacqueline Dobson, page 22


Disability champion Veitch calls for travel standards


Juliet Dennis juliet.dennis@travelweekly.co.uk


The UK government’s disability champion has called on the travel industry to work together to provide consistent service for holidaymakers with accessibility needs.


Chris Veitch, who is due to speak


at Abta’s Accessible Travel and Tourism Seminar next month, said it was critical the industry recognised such clients. He said: “This is about culture


change. It needs chief executives and board members to champion it, as well as everyone in the company. Being inclusive can help businesses make money.” Firms are said to lose about £2 billion a month by ignoring the needs of disabled people, according to disability specialist organisation Purple. There are estimated to be about


13.3 million disabled people in the UK and the ‘purple pound’ – the amount of money spent by disabled people – is estimated to be £249 billion a year. Clients need consistent levels of good service and help from agents


If Only’s first cruise programme offers 10 exclusive itineraries


 nly a launed i fir cruise programme featuring 10 itineraries. The operator has partnered with 10 cruise lines for its Luxury Cruise Collection brochure, which launched this week. The cruise lines featured are Azamara Club Cruises, Celebrity


VEITCH: ‘Key information should be available for travellers’


and operators, said Veitch, as well as an increased understanding of their needs. “It requires the industry to come


together to do more as a body and create standards,” he said. “They need to work in unison


to deliver something consistent across the customer experience so clients can expect to see certain information and expect a certain level of help. “No two wheelchair users are alike and agents and operators


Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Star Clippers. Bespoke packages can


be created, provided the embarkation or disembarkation ports are in existing If Only destinations. Agents will also be able


to mix and match ‘Signature Experiences’ such as luxury rail journeys and wildlife encounters.


10travelweekly.co.uk11 April 2019


“It requires the industry to come together to do more as a body and create standards”


need to be able to be able to identify what key pieces of information people need and what to do.” Veitch warned against pigeon- holing disabled people and failing to recognise that many older clients have accessibility needs. “This is not a specialist market,” he said. “There is money to be had, but this becomes irrelevant if you don’t have customer service. An ageing population will go to where their needs are met.”


ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL AND TOURISM SEMINAR


When: May 8 Where: Abta, 30 Park Street,


London, SE1 9EQ Cost: Abta member/partner rate: £229 plus VAT


Non-member: £349 plus VAT Register: abta.com/events Travel Weekly is media partner


AWTE withdraws ITT support as ‘values are no longer in line’


The Association of Women Travel Executives (AWTE) has withdrawn its support from this year’s ITT Conference saying the institute’s values were “no longer in line” with its own. The AWTE has supported the


conference for 10 years, hosting e firnig eloe drin. The AWTE board voted unanimously to withdraw its support from this year’s event in Croatia in June. Ten of 27 speakers due on stage are female. ara layonurner 


chairwoman, said: “We have no choice but to distance ourselves from an organisation that isn’t aligned with what we are trying o aiee i i aleeay nondiere peaer panel or this year’s conference in June. “The AWTE engages openly


with male colleagues and embraces male members. “The stance the ITT is taking


is not in line with our values. “We hope that by making a


stance, the industry listens.” ITT chairman Steven


Freudmann said: “We’re clearly disappointed. We have had an excellent relationship with the AWTE for a number of years and a huge commitment to diversity. “We choose speakers based on their merit, [not] on gender.”


Additional rewards will be


available to agents who book ruieanday paage inluding flig ruie and a minimum of one night’s accommodation.


Agents can earn £100 bonus


reard or all ruieanday bookings made in April, and £50 for every booking from May 1 onwards. Money earned can be


used to buy items available through If Only’s agent loyalty programme, My Loyalty Card.


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