NEWS ROUND-UP MOVERS & SHAKERS


Paul Stobbs has returned to the role of managing director at Attraction World after two years integrating its subsidiary Day Out With The Kids. Stobbs first joined Attraction World as managing director when it was founded in 2006. He replaces Simon Applebaum, who has now become managing director at Day Out With The Kids.


Sam Orbell has joined Funway Holidays as key account manager for the central


region, replacing Anna Hawkins. The operator now has three key account managers. Orbell previously worked at Tui and Travelopia.


Neil Sealy, head of sales at If Only, is to leave next month after six years to join a luxury direct-sell tour operator which wants to work with agents. He takes up his role on June 25.


Tim Shattock has been appointed as managing director of BMI. He previously


worked as managing director of Babcock Mission Critical Services, the UK’s largest operator of air ambulances. He joins a restructured executive team at the airline and will oversee a team of 400 staff.


Silver Travel Advisor unveils shortlist for new Silver i-Award


E-biking programmes, adapted hot tubs and holidays for dementia sufferers are among entries shortlisted for a new Silver Travel Advisor award. Six companies have made the shortlist for the Silver i-Award, which recognises a travel business that has


COMMENT: “Sharing FCO advice is all part of good service and shows the value of booking with a trusted travel provider” Nikki White, page 32


Cook reports tight Spain margins as sales rise 4%


Phil Davies and Ben Ireland


Bookings for Thomas Cook are 4% up this summer compared with last year, while prices have increased 6%.


Delivering its winter half-year


results, Cook said it was continuing to switch summer capacity from Spain to the eastern Mediterranean due to “margin pressure”. The UK tour operating business


suffered winter losses of £77 million for the six months to March despite increased sales with good demand especially for Turkey and Egypt. The business was impacted


by lower margins to the Canary Islands – Cook’s largest winter destination – caused by strong hotel cost inflation, together with a weaker sterling and increased market competition. Cook said it had mitigated losses


by “rebalancing” its destination mix towards Turkey and Egypt, growing sales of its own-brand hotels, reducing the size of its retail network by a further 10% to about 600 stores, and growing online sales. Speaking after Cook delivered its


delivered outstandingly for the mature traveller in terms of an idea, initiative or innovation in its marketing, product development or overall operation.


The winner will be announced at the 2018 Silver Travel Awards, of which Travel Weekly is trade media partner, on July 9 at London’s National Portrait


10 travelweekly.co.uk 24 May 2018 OLUDENIZ: Cook is switching summer capacity to Turkey and Egypt


half-year results, chief executive Peter Fankhauser also said Club 18-30 was “not a priority for the future”. Earlier this month Cook said it was “exploring options” for the brand, which could include a sale. “We remain committed to


Club 18-30 this summer [but] it is not a priority for the future,” Fankhauser said. “It may be that someone else is a


better shareholder for Club 18-30 and can develop it even better.” Fankhauser said the company was planning to extend the


Gallery, hosted by Classic FM’s John Suchet. The six shortlisted companies


are: Holland America Line for its ‘Explorations Central’ immersive destinations experience; Inghams for a new e-biking programme; Selective Asia for its ‘Guide Connect’ programme, connecting travellers with their guides


number of hotels offering its Choose Your Favourite Sunbed initiative from 30 to 50 after a “successful trial”. It had been introduced for this summer, with customers able to pay €25 per sunbed, per stay to secure a sunbed before they went on holiday. Fankhauser said 50% of the sunbeds that could be booked had been snapped up. “There is demand from our


customers,” he said. “It’s been a successful trial and it’s our job to roll it out at scale this summer.”


before departure; Dementia Adventure & Personal Touch Holidays for new overseas holiday opportunities for those living with dementia and their carers; Forest Holidays, for the adaptation of hot tubs in wheelchair-friendly log cabins for use by disabled guests; and Cox & Kings for its ‘Finding your Feet in Rome’ campaign. The six companies will be


judged by a panel of industry experts including Travel Weekly news editor Amie Keeley.


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