NEWS ROUND-UP NEWS IN BRIEF


Goldtrail Travel creditors asked to submit claims


Liquidators for failed operator Goldtrail Travel are inviting creditors to submit claims for payouts. PricewaterhouseCoopers said it expects to pay “dividends” to unsecured creditors “in due course”, with amounts yet to be confirmed. Goldtrail Travel was put into administration by owner Abdulkadir Aydin in 2010 with an estimated 16,000 people overseas and owing £33 million.


Thomas Cook outsources contact centre in Falkirk


Thomas Cook is to outsource its contact centre operation in Falkirk from October. All 300 staff will keep their jobs and remain in their current premises. Cook has partnered with French customer experience and business process outsourcing company Webhelp to run the contact centre.


Global Travel Group reveals ‘Ignite’ as conference theme


‘Ignite’ will be the theme of The Global Travel Group’s 25th anniversary conference in Florida. The event, to be held at Universal Orlando Resort in November, will have a programme concentrating on ‘igniting’ sales. Guests will stay at the attraction’s Caribbean- inspired Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, with conference sessions held on site.


Eden Luxury Travel plans to branch out with store in south


Cheshire-based operator Eden Luxury Travel plans to open its first store in the south and is eyeing up potential locations. The luxury operator, which has two stores – in Chester and


Ben Murtagh


COMMENT: “Linking your brand with that of others is absolutely crucial to the success of your brand” Steve Dunne, page 32


Sinitta and Billy bear help promote agency Idle Travel


Ben Ireland ben.ireland@travelweekly.co.uk


One-shop agency Idle Travel has turned to the humble teddy bear to promote its brand all over the world, and even called in popstar Sinitta to lend a hand.


The bears, named Billy Idle, have


been given to about 50 customers, who have taken photos with them on holidays booked through the Bradford-based agency. Billy has travelled to the likes


of Greece and Spain as well as farther-flung destinations such as Uganda. Last week he was pictured with


Sinitta, famous for 1980s smash hit So Macho, at Leeds Bradford airport – which is about six miles from the agency – as the Idle Travel team saw off a wedding party heading to Cyprus. Director Tony Mann said: “We


are in this little village in Bradford so we have to be bold with our marketing. I often say we punch above our weight, and getting Sinitta to help give our clients a send-off shows that. It’s all about relationship building. I met Sinitta at the Jet2holidays conference last year – she was impressed by my magic tricks on stage.” The Billy Idle bears were


CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: The Idle Travel team with Sinitta; Sinitta with Billy Idle; and a young customer on holiday with Billy in Rome


introduced earlier this year and have been limited to 50 to maintain exclusivity. Mann said: “We gave the bears


out to customers as a gift, and did a giveaway at the [agricultural] Bingley Show in Yorkshire, and they were so popular I had to stop [giving them out]. “People have taken pictures


Knutsford, both in Cheshire – is looking to open a third in the south, where it already has homeworkers. Ben Murtagh has been


appointed as travel director to oversee the retail expansion. Murtagh starts his role on


October 1 and will be tasked with opening a store in the “immediate future”. He said it would be within an


8 travelweekly.co.uk 23 August 2018


with Billy all over the world – he’s more well-travelled than me. “It’s marketing, and all about


keeping us in people’s minds, but it’s a way to enjoy it along the way. “Social media is so important these days, and we try lots of different things. I’ve seen our Twitter followers increase since Billy’s been on the road.”


hour of London and would act as a “showroom for high-end travel”. He plans to recruit three or four staff for the store. He added: “There are plenty


of luxury lovers in the south, and that opens up a big opportunity.” Murtagh has worked in the


travel industry for 10 years, including for Western & Oriental, ITC and, most recently, London agency Thames Travel.


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