Silver Travel ‘takes next step’ as a travel agency


Robin Searle


Silver Travel Advisor is to offer a travel booking service from this month as a “full-service travel agent”. The reviews, information and


travel advice publisher for the over-50s will use a new-look website due to launch in the new year as a “shop window”, with bookings fulfilled offline via a contact centre. Members will also be offered the


option to book direct with supplier partners if they prefer. The move is part of an expansion


and rebranding under former dnata managing director of tour operations Lisa McAuley, who acquired Silver Travel Advisor 12 months ago. It has also appointed former


Gold Medal marketing chief Kerry Gallagher as marketing director to support “ambitious growth plans”. McAuley said the move to offer


a travel booking service in addition to recommendations was a “natural next step” following the introduction of the new branding and a ‘Tried. Travelled. Trusted.’ strapline. The company will become


a member of Hays Travel’s Independence Group. McAuley said: “We’re the


experts in over-50s travel and can


offer genuine, first-hand advice, so it makes sense to add further value to our members by taking that all the way through to a booking and post-holiday experience.” Silver Travel Advisor has a range


of online and print consumer-facing channels, and says it has an “engaged base” of more than 124,000 members. McAuley added: “We have


an existing relationship with our members and believe the booking element is best served through conversation to ensure we are making the right recommendations and offering a truly personalised service. However, we are unique in that if a member wants to book direct with one


RCNs can no longer be issued for Covid-axed trips from Monday


Atol holders will no longer be able to issue Atol- protected refund credit notes (RCNs) for holidays cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic after midnight on December 19. The CAA reminded operators and consumers of the deadline last month, when it noted there was, as of November 22, £130 million in unspent RCNs and that these must be redeemed by September 30, 2022.


8 16 DECEMBER 2021


of our partners, we support that too.” The new-look website will feature


articles, reviews and prize draws, in addition to destination guides and information to inspire holiday choices. McAuley said: “Thanks to our


existing partnerships with leading suppliers across the industry, we’ll be in a position to offer worldwide destinations across multiple products including cruise, touring, solo travel and package holidays.” On the appointment of Gallagher,


she added: “I’m delighted to bring Kerry on board. She is well placed to support me in taking the brand


forward into a new era.” i Comment, page 16


Thirteenth person convicted in ring of fraudulent Atol claims


A 13th person has been convicted of fraudulent Atol claims in the wake of the failure of Star & Key Travel. Abdul Patel, 59, of Edmonton, was found guilty last week. This follows 12 earlier related convictions regarding 23 fraudulent claims for the cancellation of fictitious holidays to Mauritius. Patel will be sentenced next month.


Silver Travel will sell cruise, touring, solo travel and package holidays


BA offshoot puts tickets on sale for 35 Gatwick routes


British Airways has put tickets on sale for an initial 35 destinations to be served by its new short-haul subsidiary based at Gatwick. Flights are due to begin at the


end of March 2022 and will cost from £39 one way. Services will be operated by BA’s mainline until an Air Operators’ Certificate is issued. By autumn 2022, it will be managed separately under trading name BA Euroflyer. The brand name will remain as British Airways. BA will initially operate three


Airbus short-haul aircraft, rising to 18 aircraft by the end of May. The carrier suspended short-


haul flights from Gatwick in spring 2020. Several routes were moved to Heathrow. Some will return to Gatwick, with some being maintained at Heathrow to give customers choice, including Faro, Ibiza, Malaga and Tenerife. New routes at Gatwick will


include Athens, Berlin, Madrid, Milan Malpensa and Santorini.


BA Euroflyer will operate 18 aircraft by late May


CMA halts court action against Teletext to enable liquidation


The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has paused court action against Teletext Holidays and Alpharooms.com to enable the liquidation of the companies, which began on December 2. The CMA launched proceedings against Teletext in October over a failure to pay refunds on cancelled packages. As of October 19, it owed £1.2 million and had paid back £10.8 million since Covid.


travelweekly.co.uk


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