Travel Weekly (UK) articles from April 2009

Travel Weekly (UK) archives from April 2009

Destinations.
April 17, 2009... There's many a resort in the Caribbean where sunloungers are lined up in pairs, tables are always for two and sunsets are viewed holding hands. Send a single customer to the wrong hotel and they'll come back feeling less young and free than...

Destinations.
April 17, 2009... Clients are often torn between a beach or city break, particularly when they're travelling to Spain. So why not tick all the boxes and offer them both? Spain has the widest choice of beach-city destinations of any country in the Mediterranean....

Destinations.
April 17, 2009... Few destinations within a four-hour flight of the UK can offer year-round sunshine, beautiful beaches and a range of activities that runs the gamut of age groups, tastes and budgets. Add to this volcanic vistas, UNESCO World Heritage Sites,...

Destinations.
April 17, 2009... No man is an island - at least, he shouldn't be in the Caribbean. Those pristine beaches seem designed to be wandered down hand in hand, the rum cocktails really should be sipped in tandem and that hot sun demands that you should have a...

Mystery Shopper.
April 17, 2009... A17-Mysteryshopper-selby The Target Selby, North Yorkshire A week's holiday in Tenerife, somewhere upmarket This week Mystery Shopper was a couple looking for an early-summer holiday in Tenerife for seven nights. They didn't...

News.
April 17, 2009... Down but not out is one way to describe the current state of the travel industry. Summer bookings remain anything from 8%-12% down, but there is a light at the end of tunnel - a strong late bookings market. And if The Co-operative...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
April 17, 2009... More calls for a level playing field After reading 'Undercut travel agent blasts cruise operator' (Travel Weekly, April 3), I totally agree with CruisingCoast2Coast director Tony Robinson. The same thing happened to me, only this time...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
April 17, 2009... I sympathise with Martyn Dean ('Direct deals do us down', Travel Weekly, April 3), but it is not so simple. We tour operators are constantly under attack from direct-sell online companies, call centres and retailers that prefer to dynamic...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
April 17, 2009... Kuoni should show support for agents "Focus on direct sales" says Kuoni (and ex-TUI Travel) boss Peter Rothwell (Travel Weekly, March 27). And then blame the decision on (his) previous decision to "focus on direct sales" when in charge at...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
April 17, 2009... Dynamic package shift is a myth Claims in the press from TUI Travel that packages are proving more popular than ever should, perhaps, be taken with a handful of salt. The overall market is down on this time last year. What we have been...

Maureen.
April 17, 2009... You don't knee-d that Easter. The rabbits are hopping playfully and the punters are hopping mad. One of ours, recently returned from Egypt, popped in to warn us that his wife was on the warpath. "She wants words about the flights to...

News.
April 17, 2009... Travel agents can look forward to a strong late bookings market this summer if the head of the biggest independent retail group is right in his predictions. The Co-operative Travel group managing director Mike Greenacre anticipates vibrant...

News.
April 17, 2009... Tour op Co-operative Travel is poised to launch its own tour operation in partnership with Cosmos for summer 2010, with an emphasis on quality and sustainability. Managing director Mike Greenacre is determined to keep the details of...

News.
April 17, 2009... Pick up any 2010 cruise brochure and you'll spot a very clear trend - an increase in the number of short break cruises from the UK. Short break cruises have been around for a long time, pioneered by Carnival Cruise Lines in the 1970s to...

News.
April 17, 2009... What is it about cruising people that makes them want to see crew making food, washing dishes and ironing shirts? I spend most of my time on ships these days, but I can honestly say that, in the days when my overseas stays were more...

News.
April 17, 2009... Mike Greenacre joined Norwest Co-op in 1980 as director of its flagship department store in Stockport. He switched to travel in 1987 and was appointed general manager for United Co-op's travel division. By July 2007 he had become managing...

News.
April 17, 2009... Richard Lovell's career in travel started in 1988 after 24 years in other industries, including senior positions at the National Freight Consortium (Excel Logistics) and Lex Service Group. In 1988, he became managing director of Pickfords...

News.
April 17, 2009... Miles Morgan came up with the idea for the Titanic Memorial Cruise two years ago and has been secretly working on it ever since. "I'm so excited because it's been so long coming," said Morgan, well known from his days at Thomson. ...

News.
April 17, 2009... James Sherwood founded Orient-Express Hotels, Trains and Cruises in 1976 when the company acquired Hotel Cipriani in Venice. It now owns 51 properties in 25 countries, including the Copacabana Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and the Mount...

News.
April 17, 2009... Juliet Dennisjuliet.dennis@rbi.co.uk Travel agency Miles Morgan Travel has chartered a Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship to offer a cruise marking the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. The 12-night cruise on Balmoral on April...

News.
April 17, 2009... It's your last chance to book your place for the Travolution Summit. Travel Weekly's sister title Travolution, which specialises in delivering online and offline market intelligence to travel business leaders, has a stellar line-up for...

News.
April 17, 2009... The UK remains the second biggest market for Virgin Galactic. Virgin Galactic head of astronaut sales Carolyn Wincer said around 45 Brits have paid the deposit, which starts at 10% of the $200,000 total, for the trips which hopefully should...

News.
April 17, 2009... Products and incentives are essential for the running of any travel agency or supplier business. That is why the Travel Weekly website features a new function to allow companies to load up releases and educate agents on their news. If you...

News.
April 17, 2009... Four well-known industry personalities are to join the prestigious British Travel Industry Hall of Fame, now in its 15th year. Carnival UK chief executive David Dingle; The Co-operative Travel Group managing director Mike Greenacre; former...

Skillzone.
April 17, 2009... The current economic climate has seen some of the age-old rules of media planning and buying called into question. While advertising budgets were once fixed and campaigns planned well in advance, today's environment demands a much more...

News.
April 17, 2009... FCO interview By Jackie david It has 260 missions around the world, more overseas offices than any multinational corporation and it is the lifeline for Britons in trouble when working or travelling abroad. Wherever a British national...

News.
April 17, 2009... by Edward Robertson Hayes & Jarvis All Inclusive Collection Covering 16 destinations worldwide, this is the first brochure launched by the operator focusing exclusively on the all-inclusive market. The brochure also features Cuba...

Attraction World training boosts shop's sales.(News)
April 17, 2009... An agency that had lost the art of selling extras sold more than [pounds sterling]4,000 worth of theme park tickets just days after an Attraction World training session. Zoe Templeton, assistant manager at the Chapel Allerton branch of The...

News.
April 17, 2009... With holidaymakers facing more choice, agents are always looking for innovative ways to differentiate themselves - and entice their customers to book their dream trip. According to marketing agency Fox Kalomaski - whose clients include...

News.
April 17, 2009... Chloe Bermanchloe.berman@rbi.co.uk Travel specialist C&M Recruitment is to launch a green jobs section on its website. Employers will be able to advertise all kinds of jobs in this area, detailing the company's green credentials. ...

News.
April 17, 2009... Small independent cruise agents are looking at the possibility of setting up a mini-consortium or campaign group to help each other compete against their larger rivals. In recent weeks, agents have hit out against Complete Cruise Solution...

News.
April 17, 2009... by Edward Robertson The world's tallest performing water fountain has begun testing in Dubai. The Dubai Fountain in Downtown Burj Dubai is 900 feet long and will send spurts of water as high as a 50-storey building as part of a light...

News.
April 17, 2009... A Shropshire travel agent on the run after being convicted of a series of fraud offences has been arrested by police in France. David Oakley, 62, of Shrewsbury, ran a series of bogus holiday clubs including Caribbean Marketing (UK) Ltd,...

News.
April 17, 2009... Many people join the travel industry to make the most of the unique experiences on offer. However, Elegant Resorts product manager Justine Pitt never thought her job would involve being spun around to recreate the g-forces encountered...

News.
April 17, 2009... Jane Archertravel.weekly@rbi.co.uk The collapse of Hebridean International Cruises was no surprise given the weakness of the pound and high cost of running one small ship, according to cruise operators. Hebridean International Cruises...

News.
April 17, 2009... Ian Taylorian.taylor@rbi.co.uk Spending on overseas holidays could take four years to recover to the level of 2007 as consumers take fright at the state of the economy. That prediction from market analyst Mintel follows a study...

News.
April 17, 2009... Guidance on EU Vat changes issued HM Revenue and Customs has issued guidance on changes to VAT calculations under the Tour Operators' Margins Scheme from January 2010. The changes demanded by the European Commission will remove much of the...

News.
April 17, 2009... Jet2 offers [pounds sterling]3,000 booking incentiveJet2.com and Jet2holidays.com are giving agents the chance to win a [pounds sterling]3,000 cash prize. The prize will be awarded to the agent who makes the most bookings before the end of June...

News.
April 17, 2009... easter camping breaks on the risee_SFlbThe number of domestic tourists camping over Easter rose from 17% to 29% this year, a Pricewaterhouse- Coopers poll of more than 1,000 consumers has revealed. Travellers opting for bed and breakfast...

News.
April 17, 2009... A new government online campaign aiming to teach holidaymakers about financial protection has drawn a mixed response from the trade. The information, which can be found at direct.gov.uk/holidayprotection, is designed to explain the...

News.
April 17, 2009... The International Passenger Survey shows that in 2007 - the most recent statistics - UK residents made 1.5 million trips abroad to watch sport. That's 2.2% of all overseas travel and, comparing the average figures for 2006/07 to figures from...

News.
April 17, 2009... Recent political protests in Bangkok have failed to dent demand for holidays to the country, tour operators claim. Fresh protests broke out over the weekend, leading to clashes between supporters of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra...

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... Both the contenders are heavyweights, and the rivalry between them has been healthy to say the least. Melbourne and Sydney have passionate advocates but how do they square up as tourist destinations? Comparisons are often simplified, with...

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... One in every 88 UK residents visits Australia every year. And with most staying for at least three weeks and shelling out for those expensive longest-of-long-haul flights, sending clients Down Under can earn you major sums of commission. ...

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... Business travellers account for 80% of hotel occupancies in Abu Dhabi, meaning that, despite having so much to offer, it is still sorely neglected as a tourist location. Not to be dismissed as just another socialite hotspot, and far from...

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... The Yemen Tourism Promotion Board aims to increase the small number of UK visitors to the country and recently appointed tourism consultants Dunira Strategy to raise its profile. But Dunira certainly has its work cut out. In recent years...

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... Selling Turkey has historically meant offering clients after a bit of fly and flop, some cheap sun, sea and sand with a bit of culture thrown in, if requested. But this huge, varied and scenically stunning country, a haven for sporty types and...

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... Since Turkey was recently hailed the number one holiday destination for Brits, there has been talk about canny operators putting up prices to make the most of its popularity. But at the moment, Turkey is still good value for money, with...

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... To kick off, meet Andrew and Sarah. They want to get married this coming winter. They don't have exact dates but are prepared to be flexible. They are a private couple and are happy if it's just the two of them going abroad for the wedding....

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... Getting married abroad continues to be big business and, while some other travel sectors are struggling, specialists report the overseas weddings market is booming. According to Mintel, 16% of British couples are now opting for an overseas...

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... A wedding is probably one of the most important holiday sales an agent makes, so it's not surprising that some counter staff get slightly nervous when a couple come in to book their special occasion. But if you know what you're doing,...

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... A24-Des-Weddings-Selling By Lisa James Words 1,234 A wedding or honeymoon is probably one of the most important holiday sales an agent makes, so it is not surprising that some counter staff get a little nervous when a couple come...

Destinations.
April 24, 2009... The recession might have dulled the nation's passion for spending, but there's no indication yet that the tough times have dampened enthusiasm for marriage. Unlike regular holidays, city breaks and weekends away, the business of getting...

Mystery Shopper.
April 24, 2009... A24-MysteryShopper-Ashton SUBS: Apologies not sure of style of Ashton Under Lyne or Ashton-under-Lyne The target Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire Wanted Two week, self catering holiday to Turkey in school holidays. Want...

Skillzone.
April 24, 2009... As Travel Weekly's relaunch begins a new era in the way industry information is shared, so the way the industry communicates evolves. Welcome to the TWgroup's innovative new place for the industry to meet: the travelhub. Register for free...

Skillzone.
April 24, 2009... A24-community-forum quote "At the end of the day if you always treat each client as the mystery shopper and give them 100% of your time and effort and try your best to fulfil their needs you will hopefully always come off as a winner."...

Skillzone.
April 24, 2009... Manchester airport has appointed William Pearson as head of aviation sales. Pearson's appointment follows the recent expansion of the role of commercial director Andrew Harrison, who took overall responsibility for the airport's commercial...

Skillzone.
April 24, 2009... The singles market is not only the fastest growing sector in travel, but also attitudes are changing. Many people are choosing solo travel as a lifestyle option, removing the stigma for travellers going it alone. The singles travel market...

Letters.
April 24, 2009... A24-letters-Maureen With reference to the article regarding Maureen foiling fraudsters (Travel Weekly, April 10), there is actually nothing new in this, it is going on all the time. I have had several e-mails asking if I can book flights,...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
April 24, 2009... A24-letters-ccs We have a fully qualified cruise specialist and have increased our sales by over 300 per cent in the last twelve months, however this is by customer loyalty and not prices. We can never compete with tsome of the big cruise...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
April 24, 2009... A24-letters-dannyr The insurance scheme praised by Danny Rogers (Travel Weekly, April 10) is nothing new. Travel PR handled a major crisis in the Yemen for Explore 12 years ago. The bill for legal, PR and other costs - around [pounds...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
April 24, 2009... A24-letters-recruitment LETTER OF THE WEEK Despite all the doom and gloom predictions for 2009, we finished our first quarter 25% up on the same period in 2008. As a result, we felt it was safe to expand to ensure continued growth and...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
April 24, 2009... A24-letters-singles SUBS: Please x-ref to 'How to' Amid the glut of special offers filtering through from hotels around the world, and being offered by tour operators and travel agents to encourage the travelling public to resume their...

News.
April 24, 2009... exclusive Elite bosses set up Florida business Elite Vacations sales and marketing director Rob Dempster and vice-president Richard Bagshaw are leaving to set up a dedicated Florida ground-handling agency supplying accommodation to UK...

News.
April 24, 2009... US Holidaymakers pet traumas are to end with the services of airline Pet Airways. No longer are pets banished to the cargo hold but get to head to the Pet Lounge before take off and have the services of a Pet Attendant during the flight. Pet...

Oh my, Darling, this is a mixed bag for travel.(News)
April 24, 2009... High earners who buy luxury holidays will be hit hard by chancellor's 2009 Budget "A Budget to stimulate the economy!" declared the chancellor. So, how stimulated do you feel after recovering from the shocking announcement about the...

News.
April 24, 2009... Travel companies that are not making a profit will be able to claim back taxes paid over the last three years to help cancel out their losses. This was one of the measures introduced during this week's Budget by chancellor Alistair...

News.
April 24, 2009... Industry 'has been kicked in the teeth' The trade has described the Budget as a "kick in the teeth" over Air Passenger Duty. ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said chancellor Alistair Darling's failure to mention the proposed APD...

News.
April 24, 2009... Hollywood actor Christian Slater has returned to Ulusaba, Sir Richard Branson's private game reserve in South Africa to visit a new classroom at the Jeremiah crache. As part of his support of Virgin Unite, Slater helped fund the building of the...

News.
April 24, 2009... The past seven days have seen the launch of Voyages of Discovery, Cunard, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises brochures. Meanwhile, Thomson opened bookings for 2010 yesterday. If you look at the whole month, the list also includes Oceania...

News.
April 24, 2009... Depends what you think of Marco Pierre White and spending your holidays being yelled at while slaving over a hot stove. Because the Hell's Kitchen star will be hosting cookery classes on three Ventura cruises this year. Why Marco? The...

News.
April 24, 2009... Prices on Easycruise have increased for 2009 with lowest category inside cabin on a four night cruise setting you back [pounds sterling]1,136 for two people. Easycruise sales and marketing director Paul Ellerby said that they are now...

News.
April 24, 2009... First Choice has launched a new online Greener Holidays brochure. The dedicated section on the company's website will feature hotels from across the world that have received a Travelife award for their commitment to the environment,...

News.
April 24, 2009... Staff of failed call centre and online agency and operator Freedom Direct are being taken on by rival businesses in the north-east of England. The Newcastle-based company, which went into voluntary liquidation last Thursday (April 16),...

News.
April 24, 2009... Staff of failed call centre and online agency and operator Freedom Direct are being taken on by rival businesses in the north-east of England. The Newcastle-based company, which went into voluntary liquidation last Thursday (April 16),...

News.
April 24, 2009... Law court judges are becoming increasingly inclined to believe the defendant when a customer launches a legal action following a holiday. Speaking at the ABTA Travel Law seminar barrister Sarah Prager, who specialises in travel cases at 1...

News.
April 24, 2009... W elcome to your new-look Travel Weekly. Over the last year we've pulled together focus groups comprising our readers and advertisers, and asked them what they wanted Travel Weekly to deliver. This is the result. A magazine focused on...

News.
April 24, 2009... Travel agency boss Miles Morgan has had enquiries from nearly 50 countries since his cruise marking the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic went on sale last week. Morgan is to charter Fred Olsen Cruise Lines ship Balmoral for...

News.
April 24, 2009... ABTA nominations open on April 29Nominations for a new ABTA president will open when Justin Fleming steps down after three years at the helm, at ABTA's annual general meeting on April 29. Nominations close on the May 14. Daniele Broccoli of...

News.
April 24, 2009... Agents making travel arrangements which are unprotected by an ATOL should make their customers sign a disclaimer. Traveltime World co-owner David Steadman said staff should be trained to communicate to the customer whether their holiday is Atol...

News.
April 24, 2009... Jane Archertravel.weekly@rbi.co.uk Swan Hellenic is expanding its river cruise programme for 2010, offering two new seven-night cruises on the Rhine. The cruiseline, saved from extinction when Lord Sterling bought it from Carnival and...

News.
April 24, 2009... Tour operators day its "business as usual" to Thailand in the wake of the latest political demonstrations. The Foreign Office has withdrawn its advisory against travel to the country after an end to the latest political upheaval for the...

News.
April 24, 2009... At the heart of Alex Garland's 1997 bestseller The Beach is a quote the travel industry can take to heart. "One of these days," opines narrator Richard, "I'm going to find one of those Lonely Planet writers and I'm going to ask him, just...

News.
April 24, 2009... Whether or not the Chancellor is a Darling of the industry after Wednesday's Budget, the outlook on tax and charges for the travel trade is poor. The government is in a hole dug by the bank bail-out and rising unemployment, despite recent...