NEWS ROUND-UP
Virgin reveals plans for
five more v-room shops Virgin Holidays has announced plans for five more v-room travel agencies before the end of the year. The standalone stores in Birmingham, Derby, Peterborough, Romford and Stoke-on-Trent will create 28 jobs and follows news of a string of recent v-rooms due to open before the end of December in Canterbury, Glasgow, Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and St Albans.
Roald Amundsen
named in Antarctica Hurtigruten’s hybrid expedition ship Roald Amundsen (pictured) has become the first ship to be named in Antarctica. Passengers followed the naming ceremony from inflatable explorer boats and a chunk of ice replaced the traditional bottle of champagne for the naming by godmother and polar pioneer Karin Strand in Chiriguano Bay off Brabant Island. Hurtigruten claims the 530-passenger ship’s battery packs
help it cut emissions by more than 20%.
Cox & Kings appoints
KPMG to find investors The UK arm of Cox & Kings is seeking new investors amid a funding crisis at its Indian namesake company. Cox & Kings UK has appointed corporate financiers from KPMG to identify buyers for a stake in the business. The operator, which specialises in luxury tours and holidays in Africa, Asia and Europe, is believed to be in discussions with several parties, including private equity firms, about a deal. It said it was “actively seeking an investment partner with whom we can take the business forward”.
8 14 NOVEMBER 2019
LIGHT FANTASTIC: Guests at the christening of MSC Grandiosa were treated to a light show at the Blue Port in Hamburg on Sunday. Italian film star Sophia Loren, the ship’s godmother, named the ship, the 15th MSC vessel she has christened. The Meraviglia-Plus class vessel has two exclusive Cirque du Soleil shows, a 305ft-long promenade and virtual digital cruise assistant Zoe in every cabin. The 6,300-passenger ship’s launch celebrations span 27 days and eight countries, and will be witnessed by more than 14,000 travel agents, including in
Southampton, which it visited this week. O MSC Cruises this week said it had delayed the opening of private island Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve by 10 days, until November 20.
Tivoli plans to open third high street shop in 2020
Juliet Dennis
Tivoli Travel has announced plans to open its third shop, in Holmfirth in West Yorkshire. Te agency already has stores in
Mirfield and Lindley in Yorkshire. Director Jo Richards had hoped
to take on the town’s former Tomas Cook shop, before Hays Travel acquired all the failed multiple’s 555 shop leases. But the Tipto agent ambassador
has now found alternative premises in a former carpet shop in the town centre’s Victoria Street, which will be refurbished in the new year and should open in February or March. Richards, who has had her sights
set on Holmfirth for some time, said: “I don’t think the landlord can renegotiate with Hays for another six months and I didn’t want to wait that
Jo Richards, Tivoli Travel
long. I was in talks with the landlord but then the Hays deal [happened] and then this shop came up on the other side of the road near the main shopping area.” Cook was previously the only
travel agent in the town but Richards, who lives locally, is confident there is enough business for another. She
The competition
doesn’t scare me. Holmfirth has a vibrant town centre with lots of footfall
already has clients in the town who book through her other stores. “Te competition doesn’t scare
me. Holmfirth is a big working area and has a vibrant town centre with lots of footfall. We sell everything and anything. I think we will appeal to people across the board, including families, and I’m sure we will be slightly different to Hays but we’ll see what sells best,” she added. Tivoli Travel, a Global Travel
Group member, is now recruiting for two agents to staff the new shop.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Andreas Vallbracht
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