NEWS ROUND-UP
Travel sector praised for promoting mental health
Natalie Marsh
Travel firms have been praised for an enlightened approach to tackling mental health issues in the workplace but were warned to be aware of the responsibilities they are taking on. Chris O’Sullivan, head of business
development and engagement at the Mental Health Foundation, said he was encouraged by the sector’s approach. “What is brilliant to hear is that you
are not all focusing on mental illness. It’s great you are addressing stigma. Tat’s critically important,” he said. “It’s equally about proactively
addressing the nature of work, whether that’s specific to an industry or in general, to maximise and protect good mental health.” O’Sullivan was speaking at a
round-table event hosted by Travel Weekly last week as part of its Mental Health Maters coverage. Atendees included executives
from Te Advantage Travel Partnership, Travel Counsellors, Tui, Travelzoo, Kuoni, Cosmos, dnata Travel, HF Holidays and Inghams parent Hotelplan. Tey heard of initiatives that
companies are implementing to address and prevent mental health
Chris O’Sullivan
“cannot possibly be the only ones to solve” society’s mental health issues. “Work is not all your life and a lot of things happen before you join your employer and keep happening around you when you’re in employment,” he said. Advantage chief executive Julia Lo
issues and to tackle stigma sufferers oſten experience. Former psychiatrist Dr Kris
Naudts, chief executive of Culture Trip, said it was heartening that so many travel firms recognise they have a role to play in the mental wellbeing of staff. But he pointed out that while
employers have a duty of care, they BA suspends flights to Cairo for a
week as a security ‘precaution’ British Airways suspended flights to Cairo for seven days last Saturday as a security “precaution” following a visit to the Egyptian capital’s airport by the Department for Transport. It came as passengers were due to board a Cairo-bound aircraft at Heathrow. Lufthansa also cancelled flights, but only for one day. Foreign Office travel advice warns of “a heightened risk of terrorism against aviation”.
10 25 JULY 2019
Bue-Said agreed. She said: “Business plays a vital role but it’s not just the business’s responsibility.” Kuoni UK managing director
Derek Jones said the operator was commited to employees’ mental wellbeing but that expectations were rising. “Te more you do, the more
people take for granted,” he said. i Mental Health Matters, pages 20-23
Super Break owner Malvern
Group puts itself up for sale The owner of Super Break and
LateRooms.com is reported to have put itself up for sale. Malvern Group, part-owned by Cox & Kings, has appointed KPMG to undertake a review of its strategic options. Malvern is 49%-owned by the India-based company, with the majority of the shares owned by private investors.
Caribbean hotels’ row with OTA ‘is good for agents’
UK travel agents have been told they could “capitalise” on a row between Caribbean hotels and online travel giant
Booking.com over the OTA’s commission policy. Te Caribbean Hotel &
Tourism Association (CHTA) said an “overwhelming majority” of hotels in the region are considering boycoting
Booking.com over its policy to take commission on tips and service charges included in a guest’s bill. CHTA chief executive and
director general Frank Comito said the commissions could result in rising prices as hotels atempt to recoup losses, with a ‘
Booking.com Fee Surcharge’ mooted. Nadine Rankin, joint chief
executive of hotel representation company AMG, said: “If it’s obvious at the point of booking that they could make a significant saving booking somewhere other than
Booking.com, then it could drive consumers to travel agents. “Hotels have the power. Tere
are lots of distributors that hotels can work with who are not taking this stance. It’s good news for travel agents if they want to capitalise on it.”
Booking.com said it wanted
to offer customers “transparent information” over the total price to create a “level playing field” for all
its listed hotels. i Hotel News You Can Use, page 47
Fundraising for travel graduate’s
injured boyfriend tops £75k More than £75,000 has been raised towards the care of David Briffaut, boyfriend of travel and tourism management graduate Penny Bristow. He is feared to be paralysed for life after breaking his neck at a water park in Benidorm. Bristow worked at The Cruise Portfolio from 2017-18 while at the University of Hertfordshire. The Cruise Portfolio plans fundraising events. Donate at
bit.ly/Briffaut
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Steve Dunlop
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