CMA warns ‘we’ll act’ over pricing Ian Taylor


The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has warned “when we say we’ll act, we act” in enforcing new pricing rules on retailers. The rules require travel sellers to include local taxes paid in destination in the ‘total price’ of a holiday before taking a booking, including in adverts. Abta has warned of “potentially


extremely serious consequences” if companies don’t take “appropriate steps” to include “unavoidable fees and charges payable at hotels, ports or airports”. CMA guidance on the


requirements, issued in November, came with a warning that the regulator would allow three months for compliance – a period which has


now expired. But Association of Atol Companies legal advisor Alan Bowen said: “I fear there is a long way to go [for many businesses to comply]. The CMA will probably take action.” Emma Cochrane, CMA acting


executive director, spelled out what the sector can expect in a speech this month, noting: “For the first time, the CMA can decide whether consumer protection laws have been infringed and issue penalties where we find a breach.” She recalled the CMA sent


“100 advisory letters” to businesses including in travel at the time it issued the guidance urging they “review their practices or risk future action” and said: “Make no mistake, you can expect further action.” The CMA issued its first fine


Dawson’s new MD targets profitability before chain growth


Andrew McQuarrie


Dawson & Sanderson’s newly appointed managing director says his primary focus is on delivering profit growth in all the agency’s existing stores as he weighs the relocation of some branches to maximise output. David Chambers, grandson of


agency founder Tom Dawson, was promoted from his position on the board last month. In his first interview in his new


role, he said: “In terms of the number of shops, we’ll look at every opportunity as it comes in, but I just


4 26 FEBRUARY 2026


want all of our shops that we have now to be as profitable as possible and to keep growing year on year.” He added that he had been


working closely with commercial director Judith Alderson over the past 12 months, carrying out many of the duties he will be formally undertaking in his new role. “Judith’s done more of the


commercial side, working with the suppliers, and I’ve been working closely with the finance and marketing sides, and external accountants,” he said. While confirming retail expansion


would be in his sights eventually, he said the short-term future would


be more likely to involve relocation of existing stores. The tactic was recently employed in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, where the branch was moved to a higher-footfall location. “One year your shop can be in the


perfect location and then the next year it can be in the worst location and it hasn’t moved,” said Chambers. “So that’s our main focus now.


Rather than growing the number of shops we have, maybe if there’s a shop that isn’t in the right location in that town, but it still has the potential [to improve], we can relocate it.” Outlining a strategy to boost


margins, Chambers revealed agents I fear there is a long


way to go [for many businesses to comply]. The CMA will probably take action


since gaining new powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act this month, issuing a £473,000 penalty against car park management firm Euro Car Parks for failing to comply with a notice to provide information while the CMA considered opening an investigation. Cochrane also noted the CMA


issued guidance last April on compliance with a ban on ‘fake’ reviews for which it allowed a similar


three-month adjustment period, which it followed by conducting “a sweep of over 100 businesses to check their compliance” and found “more than half needed to do more”. She said the CMA then sent


advisory letters to these businesses rather than move immediately to enforcement, but she insisted: “Enforcement will follow.” The complexity of complying is


clear from the lists of taxes in resort compiled by major operators. Tui lists 48 countries and


Jet2holidays 46, with amounts varying between cities and regions, length of stay, type of accommodation, payable per person or per room, per night or per stay, and with or without reductions for children.


David Chambers


would soon be given the opportunity to undertake dynamic packaging for the first time in several years. “We’ve reached out to a tour


operator which has given us access to all of its flights and hotel distribution. We’ll be able to have direct access to that through our reservation system, so we can dynamically package without having to call [the operator].” Chambers said trading for the


year to date had been “steady”, with regular high-value bookings balanced against a sluggish family market. “The family market has been


non-existent with us since January,” he added.


travelweekly.co.uk


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