Thomas Cook charity gives £18k to Reuben’s


Juliet Dennis


The Thomas Cook Children’s Charity has donated £18,000 of its remaining funds to Reuben’s Retreat to help vulnerable families during the lockdown. Trustees of TCCC, which is in the


process of being wound down, chose Reuben’s Retreat as one of three charities to receive leftover monies after paying out already-pledged funds. TCCC operated as a separate


entity to Cook and has been collecting all monies donated in branches and overseas since the travel firm’s collapse last autumn. The funds will help 143 families on


a 12-week lockdown due to increased health risk during the Covid-19 pandemic and being supported remotely by Reuben’s Retreat. Nicola Graham, who set up


Reuben’s Retreat with husband Mike after their son’s death in 2012, said: “Throughout the ‘stay home, stay safe’ strategy, our fundraising has been severely impeded at a time when our beneficiary families became more vulnerable than ever. “Families of children with short


life expectancy are worried about a common cold; the thought of a virus has placed them in a really frightening position. They have


Nicola Graham and Matt Harding; inset, Celebrity


Cruises’ #CheesyGrin campaign This incredible gift


comes at a time when it is so needed. It goes without saying, we vow to spend it wisely


increased isolation too, affecting their grieving processes. This incredible gift from TCCC comes at a time when it is so needed. It goes without saying, we promise to spend it wisely.” The charity is renovating its


premises in Derbyshire and is eight weeks away from completing a hydrotherapy pool, sensory and movie room and messy play room.


Advantage, Aito, SPAA and others


discuss forming industry alliance Several industry organisations plan to create an alliance to work together on key issues. The Advantage Travel Partnership, The Specialist Travel Association, BAR UK, the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association, Iata and the Business Travel Association have shared a video call to discuss collaboration. A spokesman said: “Travel is always seen as segmented. If we are going to talk to government, we can say we represent a variety of stakeholders.”


8 28 MAY 2020 In 2016, it received £150,000


from TCCC. TCCC trustee Matt Harding


said: “It was important we chose charities we knew would look after the funds in the right way. It had to fit with our charitable aims. We have a longstanding relationship with


Reuben’s Retreat and trust them.” OIn a separate Reuben’s Retreat fundraising campaign, Celebrity Cruises is encouraging agents to share smiling pictures on social media with the hashtag #CheesyGrin and donate £5. To donate, text GRIN to 70970 or use Celebrity Rewards points. Reuben’s Retreat has created a bespoke frame to add to profile pictures on Facebook.


Vertical Systems unveils new


payment and phone solutions Vertical Systems has developed new systems to help agents take contactless payments and manage calls in multiple formats including video. VSL Pay is a contactless ‘pay by link’ solution allowing customers to pay by text or email; VSL Call is an online telephony system allowing users to manage video and voice calls, live chat and videoconferencing.


O A platform aiming to connect people on furlough with volunteer opportunities is targeting travel sector staff. Furlonteer.com matches the skills and expertise of furloughed people with charities that need help. Roles range from a few hours a month to several hours a day, with most based from home.


O Money raised by a group of industry professionals who climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last year is to be reallocated to Covid-19 emergency relief funds. The G Trek For Good group will redirect £12,897 previously earmarked for a project supported by G Adventures’ Planeterra arm to communities the operator already works with that are most in need due to the coronavirus pandemic.


OAdvantage Travel Partnership is offering a £1,000 holiday prize as part of its #BucketListReboot campaign. Holidaymakers must make a short video (10- 15 seconds) describing their dream holiday, and post it on social media by June 20 with the hashtag and tagging their Advantage agent.


travelweekly.co.uk


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32