Agency owner entrusts apprentice to run shop


Andrew McQuarrie


Spires Travel owner Paul Knapper has backed the next generation of travel agents for success after entrusting his apprentice to run his agency’s shop while he helped a local college take travel and tourism students to Malta. Knapper was happy to task


19-year-old Scarlett Hodges with managing the store on her own while he accompanied Heart of Worcester College staff members and 35 students on a three-night trip at the start of this month. Hodges then took


charge for a further three days the following week while Knapper attended a friend’s 40th birthday celebration in Portugal. Praising her performance,


Knapper encouraged other agencies to consider recruiting apprentices if they were not already doing so. “A lot of people came out of


the industry during Covid-19 and sometimes I think we’ve got to give a chance to an apprentice and let them train on the job,” he said. Knapper, whose shop is based in


the college’s All Saints Building, was asked to go on the Malta trip because


Paul Knapper with students from Heart


of Worcester College Inset: Scarlett Hodges


only three staff members from the college were


available and the number of students meant four adults were required. “All the students were really well


behaved and wanting to learn, and I really enjoyed it,” he said. Knapper had met some of the


students before, but the trip provided a chance to meet more of them and have one-to-one conversations. “I see it as my job to try to inspire


the ones who might want to work in a travel agency,” he said. Every year, Spires Travel gives


work placements to four students on the college’s travel and tourism


Fred Olsen reveals all-inclusive pricing for sailings from 2026


Fred Olsen Cruise Lines is introducing inclusive pricing for all sailings from January 2026. Fares will include house beers, wines, spirits and draught soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Also included will be shuttle buses when a port is more than one mile from where the ship docks; guided “social strolls”; entertainment and enrichment activities; fitness classes; crew gratuities; and port fees and taxes.


8 20 MARCH 2025


course and each of the business’s full-time recruits has been a graduate from the course. Hodges, who joined the agency as


an apprentice in June last year, is due to finish her apprenticeship through AS Training at the start of June. Asked about her time running the


shop on her own, she said: “It went really well. I’m kept busy, so the days go quickly – I blink and it’s 5pm.” Hodges made a number of


bookings in the six days, including city breaks, a Titan Travel tour in South Africa and a villa stay in Crete. Knapper was available throughout to provide support via phone and email.


Tributes paid to ex-Silversea vice-president Aris Zarpanely


Tributes have been paid following the death of former Silversea senior vice-president Aris Zarpanely, who died aged 78 last week. Former colleague Mark Lewsey described him as “a legend of a man”. Ian Buckeridge, commercial director at The Cruise Line, said: “He was a great friend, mentor and inspiration.”


Irwin Mitchell takes on new Cape Verde illness cases


Law firm Irwin Mitchell says it has been instructed by more holidaymakers following reported illness at hotels in Cape Verde. The firm claims holidaymakers


at the Riu Palace Boavista on the island of Sal have complained about “serious bacterial infections” three times in the past three years. Specialist serious injury lawyers


have taken on 12 new cases and represent more than 1,400 clients who have fallen ill at several hotels in Cape Verde over the past three years. Irwin Mitchell last week said


it had been instructed by the 12 tourists who booked holidays at the Riu Palace Boavista with Tui. Specialist lawyer Jennifer


Hodgson said: “Our clients understandably have many questions over how they were so ill from debilitating symptoms and how British holidaymakers continue to be sent to the same resorts when lessons don’t appear to have been learnt.” A Tui UK & Ireland spokesperson


said: “Our priority is to ensure customers have the best possible holiday experience, which is why we were very sorry to hear that these customers were ill during their holiday to Cape Verde. As this is now a legal matter, we are unable to comment any further at this time.” Travel Weekly approached Riu


for comment.


Olympic Holidays appoints Leanne Edwards as head of sales


Olympic Holidays has hired Leanne Edwards as head of sales. Edwards will be tasked with enhancing Olympic Holidays’ presence in the market and developing its partnerships within the trade. She has worked in the industry for more than 30 years and was most recently head of sales for retail partnerships at Classic Collection, having joined the operator from Not Just Travel.


travelweekly.co.uk


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  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68