Fred Olsen to open third concept store Juliet Dennis
Fred Olsen Travel Conference, Chesham, Buckinghamshire
Fred Olsen Travel has revealed plans for its third concept store, which will open in partnership with Carnival Corporation. The store, in a former pub in
Ringwood, Hampshire, will be the retailer’s 20th shop and will have a grand opening in June following a soft opening in May. The company opened its first concept store in Eastbourne in June last year and its second in Worthing in January. Retail director Paul Hardwick,
who announced the news at the Fred Olsen Travel conference at the De Vere Latimer Estate Hotel in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, said:
What we have seen is that operators double the growth they would see in one of our normal stores
“It’s the perfect town for us and we have been looking at it for many years. “It is quite a large shop, so there is
huge scope to grow. My aim is still to get to 25 stores by 2025.” Hardwick revealed there were
“a few other exciting projects in the pipeline”, adding: “I hope to add some shops to the portfolio this year and continue to expand that next year, which will increase our turnover and grow our overall business.”
Aito: Government should get tough on airline refunds
Juliet Dennis
Aito has urged the government to “get tough” on airlines as operators struggle to secure refunds for clients due to its advice against travel to Israel. The Foreign Office (FCDO)
advised against all but essential travel to parts of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in October last year as a result of Israel’s war on Gaza. Under the Package Travel
Regulations (PTRs), holidaymakers can cancel a package in the event of “unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances” in a destination
6 25 APRIL 2024
and get a full refund. In 2020, Abta confirmed members must offer clients full refunds on packages when the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to a destination. But Aito, The Specialist Travel
Association, said members with bookings to Israel had been unable to secure refunds for the flight element of a package from airlines, particularly from those continuing to fly to Israel. Aito executive director Martyn
Sumners said: “This happened during the pandemic and still continues. The government has to get tough on the airlines.” Chairman Chris Rowles stressed
The Ringwood store’s partnership
with Carnival Corporation will make it Fred Olsen Travel’s first concept store to work with multiple brands from one company, with the retailer saying it was approached by Carnival. The cruise operator’s brands,
which include P&O Cruises, Cunard, Seabourn, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line, will have their logos, as well as dedicated point-of-sale materials and brochures, displayed behind different desks in the store. Hardwick added that “lots of
operators” were approaching Fred Olsen Travel about future concept stores, with more planned in the next 18 months. He added: “What we have seen is that operators double the growth
Paul Hardwick
they would see in one of our normal stores. Our aim is to have a profit from day one and we have managed that in the concept stores so far.” The new shop will initially have
three staff, including a manager, and will include a luxury lounge area. It will sell other suppliers but the focus will be on its store partners.
Martyn Sumners
the need for a change to the PTRs, currently under review by the Department for Business and Trade, to avoid operators being refused refunds from suppliers such as airlines or hotels. At Aito’s AGM, he expressed
frustration that holidaymakers who booked components independently would be more likely to get money back from their insurance company than those who booked a package. “If something goes wrong,
operators don’t get that money back from suppliers. Travel insurance
should take precedence. That means a change to the PTRs,” he said. Deputy chairman Martin Garland
agreed: “We want the insurer to be the first port of call.” Aito member Cyplon Holidays
eventually secured a voucher from an airline after being refused a refund following the change in travel advice to Israel. Managing director Harry Hajipapas said: “The PTRs are not fit for purpose. We, as tour operators, always take the hit.” EasyJet announced last week it was cancelling summer flights to Tel Aviv.
travelweekly.co.uk
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