Continued from page 36 For this to work, a Refund
Credit Note must: O Be equal to the amount paid
for the booking, or less where a part refund has been paid.
O Exclude any rebooking incentive, which must be documented separately and the consumer made aware it is not covered by financial protection.
O Identify the original booking reference and, where appropriate, Atol Certificate number.
O Be issued within 14 days and include the option of a refund, albeit this is delayed.
O Contain an expiry date. The customer can use the credit note to make alternative arrangements or seek a cash refund by this date.
O Tell the customer to retain all booking documentation and proofs of payment. The expiry date must be
within the period financial protection arrangements are in place. For Abta members still to renew bonds for March this remains July 31; for members to renew bonds in September it is January 31, 2021; and for those who renewed their bond in March it is March 31, 2021. Organisers using financial
security other than Abta’s must seek approval from the provider. Businesses must state how
the protection is provided and the period of validity, and notify Abta they are issuing RCNs. The document includes wording to be included in a Refund Credit Note and briefing notes for frontline staff. Abta notes it will review
and amend the guidance “in the event the Package Travel Regulations are amended temporarily” by the government.
‘Expect a sharp recovery and a second downturn’
Ian Taylor
A leading economist has forecast a V-shaped recovery from the recession caused by Covid-19, but dismissed suggestions of a post-crisis boom for travel. Roger Bootle, chairman of
London-based Capital Economics, told a Hospitality Tomorrow online
conference: “The best we can hope is that we get back to where we were.” He expressed optimism about
the UK’s ability to manage the debt resulting from measures to support business and furloughed workers but forecast: “The EU won’t emerge unscathed.” Bootle also said: “I’m more optimistic about leisure travel than business travel.” He told the conference: “There
has been a dramatic drop in GDP – the worst performance in a short period since the Great Depression. But we’ll get a sharp recovery, a V-shaped recovery. What happens after that? Some people think it will be better than it was. I don’t. The best is that we get back to where we were.” Bootle argued: “We’ve seen a
Roger Bootle
massive increase in debt. How do we deal with it? Some argue slashing public expenditure and raising taxes would be good [or] inflation would be good. I don’t. We should put up with the debt and try to get growth up.” He said consumer spending
China hotels show ‘encouraging’ 30% occupancy rate
China shows “the shape of travel recovery” from the coronavirus with two-thirds of hotels reopening, according to hospitality analyst STR. Managing director Robin
Rossmann reported “encouraging” occupancy in China last week after many hotels reopened. But he forecast it would be 2022 before the hotel sector recovers in Europe.
34 16 APRIL 2020
would inevitably be weaker, noting: “Some people are in desperate straits. When the restrictions come off, I anticipate a surge in demand for hospitality and travel, but it won’t be sustained because people have suffered a big dent to their finances. “It could lead to a second
downturn. But we should see demand return in the medium term.” However, Bootle suggested:
“There is a big question mark over business travel. People have learnt to have virtual meetings.” Bootle insisted: “Attitudes to
China in the West won’t be the same [and] there will be major effects in Europe. Borders were closed. People looked to their national governments. The EU was able to do nothing. The blow to the Italian economy will be huge. It will increase the strains in the
eurozone and on the EU.” O A Global Business Travel Association survey in early April found half its members expect travel to resume within three months.
Rossman told a Hospitality
Tomorrow videoconference: “China is the best scenario we have to show the shape of recovery.” He reported occupancy “up 10
percentage points in the last two weeks” and argued: “Occupancy of 30% is encouraging.” Highlighting data for the city
of Chengdu, Rossmann said: “The first phase of recovery has been driven by domestic leisure travel, corporate travel in industrial zones, and quarantined guests in hotels close to airports. Lower-scale hotels have done better than higher. The luxury and top-end has struggled.”
Looking beyond China, he said:
“A short-term decline and bounce- back seems unlikely. Economists forecast a V-shape recovery. [But] in our industry it’s not likely to be as quick. Countries are likely to restrict [movement at] borders.
travelweekly.co.uk
Shanghai
PICTURE: Dibrova
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36
