NEWS ROUND-UP


COMMENT: “In 30 years, not a single Aito agent has become insolvent – how about using that as a headline instead!”Gemma Antrobus, page 30


Westoe Travel hits the big 3-0


Westoe Travel has celebrated its 30th anniversary – just as it has enjoyed the busiest January in its history. The South Shields agency started off at the back of


the family’s newsagents, selling tickets on Blue Line coaches to London, which departed from outside the shop. Travel sales grew as customers started asking for hotels in London and rail travel. By 2005, Westoe had set up its own shop. Graeme Brett (second right) and wife Joan (right) own


the agency, their daughter Gillian and son Martin also work there, while Graeme still drops off brochures for his mum Olive to stamp at home. Graeme, who is planning an anniversary cake and


will take the staff away later this year to celebrate, said: “People like to support a family business.”


Abta opens Tokyo 2019 registration for Early Birds


Ian Taylor ian.taylor@travelweekly.co.uk


Abta opens registration for The Travel Convention 2019 in Tokyo on February 1 for those who have pre-booked and paid a deposit.


Delegates who took advantage of


its Early Bird fee have two weeks to complete their registration to get the first choice of flights to Tokyo with Japanese carrier ANA. Abta will then open registration


to all. All 200 Early Bird places were reserved within days of Abta announcing Tokyo as the destination for the October event. The convention will coincide


with the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan (September 20 to November 2), meaning those who register late could find flights and hotels booked by fans. Economy return fares with ANA


are £599 direct from Heathrow and £449 indirect. The direct flights operate to okyo aneda airport, a 30-minute transfer to the convention hotel, whereas flights via the continent operate


Industry protection firm PTS welcomes 45 new members


Protected Trust Services has reported a surge in popularity in its trust account model with 37 members joining in the last three months of 2018. This was double the number


of members who joined the trave indstr protetion fir in the last quarter of 2017. Members pay a fee to join PTS,


hih offers a aoffie seing system, processes all supplier payments, offers a trust account solution and provides an Atol. The new members are


TOKYO: The Travel Convention will take place on October 7-9


to Tokyo Narita, 90 minutes away. Early Bird bookers can book


a flight upon completing their registration and receiving confirmation egistration ill open to all others on February 15. Delegates will all stay at the


Grand Prince Hotel New Takanawa next to the convention centre, one of three properties in the Prince Hotels & Resorts complex close to Tokyo’s Shinagawa rail station. The Travel Convention 2019


website went live on January 28, with details of the venue, registration and flights


10travelweekly.co.uk31 January 2019 The October 7-9 convention


features a welcome party on the Monday evening, business sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday and a farewell party on Wednesday night. A choice of fam trips will be available to Abta members, as well as pre and


post-tours for all attendees. Travel Weekly is pleased to be the Travel Convention’s trade media partner once again this year. Find out more: The Travel Convention 2019, October 7-9, Tokyo thetravelconvention.com


predominantly tour operators, but also include travel agencies and fighton opanies. Since the start of this year,


eight new members have joined, according to head of marketing communications Jacqui Cleaver. She put the rise down to the introduction of the new package travel regulations last July. Cleaver said: “The trust account model is becoming more popular by the second. We see ourselves as a scaffolding system to support members. “Money goes straight into the


trust account and we do daily payment runs to suppliers. “It’s all very seamless, which is why people are moving to us.”


PICTURE: SHUTTERSTOCK


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