Travel Weekly (UK) articles from August 2007

Travel Weekly (UK) archives from August 2007

News.
August 3, 2007... Harry Weeks says no to leisure travel Rail specialist Harry Weeks Travel is set to stop selling to the leisure travel market in a move that could see the loss of 20 jobs. The company said it had decided to withdraw from the sector...

BA gets rap but Virgin's not pure.(Comment)
August 3, 2007... Byline: Sarah LongbottomEditor By confessing all to the OFT, Virgin Atlantic neatly sidestepped all penalties It's the highest fine ever imposed by the Office of Fair Trading for infringements of competition law - and it's gone to...

How to spenda fortnight in fine China.(Departures)
August 3, 2007... Your client has 14 days to take in the biggest country in the world - so where do you recommend? Jo Gardner clocks up more mileage than an emperor's army to find a winning itinerary facts A total of 8,099 Terracotta Warriors were...

Departures.
August 3, 2007... Emirates to begin Newcastle-Beijing route Emirates is to commence services from Newcastle to Beijing via Dubai from September 1, complementing existing services from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. It is the...

Macau takes flight.(Departures)
August 3, 2007... The destination's casinos are luring in UK tourists, writes Jo Gardner Significant investment in Macau is helping to attract more UK visitors, with arrivals up 31% in the first quarter of 2007 year on year. A total of [pounds...

Departures.
August 3, 2007... in brief Images of Vietnam with Jetsave Jetsave has a new 14-day Images of Vietnam and Cambodia tour, taking in Hanoi, Hue, Ho Chi Min City and the Mekong River in Vietnam before flying to Siem Reap in Cambodia for Angkor Wat. Prices...

Departures.
August 3, 2007... A3-Asia-Vietnam By Janine Kelso Sandwiched between China, Laos and Cambodia, Vietnam is blessed with unspoilt sandy beaches, vibrant cities, amazing cuisine and a rich culture and long history. The destination, part of a region known...

ITT announces board.(News)
August 3, 2007... The Institute of Travel and Tourism has announced its new board following membership elections. World Travel Market head of sales Wendy Hartley, TV personality Martin Roberts, ITT chairman of the training and education committee Claire...

OF THEBESTactive breaks in argentina.(Departures)
August 3, 2007... Byline: Lola Almudevar If Argentines have a reputation for being somewhat self-assured, they've got good reason. This Latin American gem has subtropical rainforest in the north, blue glaciers in the south and cities that throng to the...

Calling on Colombia.(Departures)
August 3, 2007... It might not be as well known as its neighbours, but Colombia should be on any Latin America wishlist. Jo Gardner gets the lowdown on the regions, the activities and the places to stay Located on the Caribbean coast between Venezuela and...

Hurtigruten adds South Pole sailings.(Departures)
August 3, 2007... Cruiseline appeals to British tourists with new Antarctic itineraries, which take in the Falkand Islands, writes Jo Gardner Hurtigruten has introduced two new itineraries in the Antarctic this month, taking the number of tours offered to...

Departures.
August 3, 2007... in brief Tour Chile by coach with Cosmos Cosmos Tourama has added a new tour in Chile to its Worldwide brochure. The 11-day Chile: Land of Contrasts tour takes in cities, volcanoes, lakes and waterfalls including Santiago, Puerto Montt...

How to crack time management.(Skillzone)
August 3, 2007... Got a member of staff who's persistently late or takes too long on cigarette breaks? Don't know how to deal with the problem? Read on... It may still feel like the middle of the night when the alarm goes off, but how often do your staff...

Departures.
August 3, 2007... Picture this: pristine beaches, rich culture and dramatic scenery that just keeps on coming. Turkey's Turquoise Coast should easily tick all the boxes for most holidaymakers. Flying into Dalaman and basing yourself around Dalyan, Fethiye or Olu...

Tourism to Turkey is back in business.(Departures)
August 3, 2007... Janine Kelso reports on the destination's renewed popularity following bird flu and terrorism Growth in UK tourism to Turkey has improved this year following a difficult 2006, according to operators. Business has picked up after last...

Tickle those tastebuds.(Departures)
August 3, 2007... Janine Kelso looks beyond the kebabs and tucks in to some of Turkey's finest fodder food facts Turkey is renowned for its tasty food, which has made its mark on almost every high street in the UK. But the humble kebab is just a...

holidaymaker.(Departures)
August 3, 2007... Maxine and Andrew Duffy, from Manchester, went on a Jewel in the Crown holiday to the Yavuz Hotel in Dalyan in July. They booked through Miss Ellies Travel, paying just under [pounds sterling]500 each for 14 nights' bed and breakfast, flights...

Departures.
August 3, 2007... This charming hotel is a great rural retreat, offering sweeping views of the Olemez mountains around Dalyan. Located several miles outside of town, its balmy air is rich with the hum of chattering crickets but blissfully free of traffic...

Departures.
August 3, 2007... turkey moves into dynamic arena Turkey is moving into the dynamic packaging arena, according to operators. Holidays 4U, Jewel in the Crown and Libra Holidays have reported an increase in the number of flight-only bookings, which they...

News.
August 3, 2007... What annoys people most about Brits abroad? Source: Cheapflights.co.uk 1. Drunk and raucous behaviour - 42% 2. The lack of a sun tan - 24% 3. Expecting foreigners to speak English - 22% 4. English football fans - 7% ...

News.
August 3, 2007... top 20 travel search terms 1. Easyjet 2. Ryanair 3. Multimap 4. AA route planner 5. Cheap holidays 6. Cheap flights 7. AA 8. Thomas Cook 9. Holidays 10. Train times 11. Google earth...

News.
August 3, 2007... Top ten hotels in Las Vegas Source: Seligo, sales for 2007 1. Caesars Palace 2. Flamingo Resort 3. Imperial Resort 4. Las Vegas Hilton 5. Harrahs LV Casino 6. Bellagio 7. Flamingo 8. Luxor ...

News.
August 3, 2007... Singapore cruise in stats [pounds sterling]3.4 million - the amount spent on Singapore's Fly-Cruise Development Fund to boost cruise passenger numbers 35,448 - the number of cruise passengers in Singapore last year 45% - the...

News.
August 3, 2007... 1. Hershey Park, Hershey, Pennsylvania 2. Busch Gardens, Tampa, Florida 3. Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky, Ohio 4. Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio 5. Family Kingdom Amusement Park, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 6....

independentspirit.(News)
August 3, 2007... Having founded Unijet in 1981, Nigel Jenkins can claim to be an independent travel pioneer. After the company was sold to First Choice he faced greater challenges. Juliet Dennis spoke to him Nigel Jenkins, non-executive chairman,...

Corinthia rooms fuel 70% revenue boom.(News)
August 3, 2007... Corinthia Hotels has experienced a 70% increase in room revenues for 2006, with meetings, incentives, conferences and events leading the growth, the company said. With venues in St Petersburg Prague, Budapest, Lisbon and St Petersburg, the...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
August 3, 2007... from the travel weekly blog In praise of Istanbul's Akbil Just back from Istanbul, the city where East meets West and common sense meets public transport. Yes, the city's Akbil pass is a thing of beauty to a suburbian Londoner used to...

Carrentals.co.uk makes appointment.(News)
August 3, 2007... Price comparison website carrentals.co.uk has appointed Claire Hayes head of product and purchasing. Hayes has moved from online travel firm Opodo where she was head of travel products for two years with responsibility for car hire, cruise,...

Departures.
August 3, 2007... Everything you need to know for the week ahead Homepage: Official Airline Guide has launched a new website to complement the existing oag.com. Oag-flights.com, as the name implies, is a fare search tool and booking facility for all flights...

Columnists.
August 3, 2007... RONNIE FINDLAY, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ENJOY HOLIDAYS In my view, the long-term winners in the current marketplace are always those who deliver consistently the highest level of value. It is not just about a price war, it is about delivering...

News.
August 3, 2007... pic caption Comedian Ruby Wax is set to headline the inaugural celebrations of NCL's latest ship, Norwegian Gem in Dover this October. The star will be on board the ship on October 5 when members of the trade will be invited to get a...

Get classy in Europe.(News)
August 3, 2007... Kuoni offers clients luxury short-haul breaks in 17 countries on the Continent Kelly Ransonkelly.ranson@rbi.co.uk Kuoni has launched its first World Class Europe brochure following customer demand for short-haul luxury products. ...

Black Watch bookings unaffected by disease.(News)
August 3, 2007... Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has said the discovery of legionnaires' disease on board Black Watch had so far not affected bookings. Earlier this week, two elderly female passengers tested positive for the disease after falling ill when the ship...

News.
August 3, 2007... LATE NEWS Island incentive Island Cruises is offering the chance to win a trip for two on the first Caribbean sailing of Island Star in December. Agents can enter by booking an Island Caribbean cruise and e-mailing details to...

News.
August 3, 2007... late news Colombia hits UK high Colombia has reported a 14% year-on-year increase in the number of UK visitors to 9,112 for the first six months of 2007. The growth is largely due to the Colombia is Passion campaign introduced last...

News.
August 3, 2007... Etihad Airways has signed a three year deal to be the main sponsor of English premiership rugby union team Harlequins. The seven-figure deal is Etihad's first major sporting sponsorship agreement in the UK and the biggest in Harlequins'...

News.
August 3, 2007... Ryanair boss slams Stansted service Lindsay Clark Ryanair plans to ground seven of its 40 Stansted-based aircraft this winter. Chief executive Michael O'Leary, blamed airport charges for the decision, and criticised the service...

Mexico Tourism Board on Mayan mission.(Departures)
August 3, 2007... The Mexico Tourism Board is planning to use its Mayan heritage to promote its history and culture in a bid to work more closely with other Latin American countries. Mexico was one of three Latin American nations to win out in the search...

Departures.
August 3, 2007... An eco-friendly stay in Ecuador The Huaorani Ecovillage and Lodge opens this month in the Huao Village of Quito, Ecuador. Named after the Huao communities along the Shiripuno River, there are five thatched cabins, which sleep two people....

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
August 3, 2007... Concerned by incorrect charge We were concerned to read the letter that highlighted a recent car rental experience in Glasgow (Travel Weekly, July 6). Following an investigationinto this case, we can confirm the customer was...

SAA speeds the way.(Letters)
August 3, 2007... Beat this: it's Saturday July 21 in England. It's summer, the busiest travel day of the year and Middle England is the new biggest lake in the land. You will have seen it all on TV. Our customer leaves Cheshire by coach at 11am with 55...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
August 3, 2007... Booking utopia is a distant dream I understand that many hoteliers in Greece are beginning to realise the bookings utopia promised by the bed banks and the Internet technology companies which pose as tour operators is not all it's cracked...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
August 3, 2007... Anger at Ryanair's sneaky charges I feel I must express my utter astonishment at Ryanair's charges. The airline has not only started to charge passengers for the pleasure of taking their luggage with them on their trip, but passengers...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
August 3, 2007... A3-letters-sunvil I understand that many hoteliers in Greece are beginning to realise that that the bookings Utopia promised by the bed banks and the internet technology companies who pose as tour operators is not what is was cracked up to...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
August 3, 2007... A3-letters-tickets Further to the letter last week regarding Airtours late tickets, assuming that the agent is a member of ABTA, the code of conduct 'normally regards 14 days before departure to be sufficient time for tickets to reach...

Letters.(Letter to the editor)
August 3, 2007... Cheque makes a great surprise I received a commission cheque this week for [pounds sterling]763.09 from Travelux. Nothing special, you might think, but this was for a booking that a local resident made direct with the operator, having...

Get your entries in.(Skillzone)
August 3, 2007... Nominate for the Agent Achievement Awards for the north by August 27 You've seen the pictures in Travel Weekly of the proud winners of the Agent Excellence Awards clutching their trophies. Now it could be your chance to get your hands on...

Skillzone.
August 3, 2007... Flight Centre About the employer Flight Centre's first branch was opened in Sydney by Graham Turner, right, in 2001 and it is now one of the world's largest independent travel retailers with more than 1,500 stores globally. The first...

protect your brand.(Skillzone)
August 3, 2007... A company's name and key brands are some of its most valuable possessions and adequate protection of them is vital, says Debbie Venn, a solicitor at ASB Law How to... It's important to protect your brand because: * it helps build...

Skillzone.
August 3, 2007... 2007: Cadogan Holidays 2006: Head of sales, Travel City Direct/XL Holidays 2006: Interim online marketing manager, On Holiday Group 1995: Roles including marketing manager and general manager, First Choice Holidays, Eclipse and...

Break the language barrier.(Skillzone)
August 3, 2007... Learn the lingo - and watch your salary soar, writes Neal Baldwin case study Claire Pymm, general manager, supplier development, TUI UK - speaks French and Spanish "My aptitude for languages must have come from my grandfather,...

Skillzone.
August 3, 2007... Former Highlife Breaks managing director Donna Taylor is now in charge of the accommodation for all the athletes, coaches, media and officials for the London 2012 Olympics. The role includes negotiating availability and rates for accommodation....

From books to bookings.(Skillzone)
August 3, 2007... This week's profile is Nigel Armitage, MD of Millington Travel Lounge - based in a branch of Waterstone's - which won the 'Best Agency Innovation' category in the Midlands/East of England "People buy a cappuccino, then sit down with us for...

TW2.
August 3, 2007... a night to remember Life would be so much easier if we all had a fairy godmother to arrange our social lives. That's the conclusion these agents came to after Travel Weekly's Southwest Ball. Freedom Flights and Bristol International...

News.
August 3, 2007... Week in pics A group of 19 agents from across First Choice Retail were given the chance to fly out to Turkey to experience the activities at the Holiday Village in Sarigerme. As well as visiting hotels in Marmaris and Icmeler, the...

News.
August 3, 2007... Week to come Saturday August 4 Innocent Village Fete taking place in Regents park with all the things to make a great summer fete. www.innocentvillagefete.co.uk Sunday August 5 Edinburgh Fringe Festival starts today. Check out...

News.
August 3, 2007... Elite Travel Group launches marketing scheme for members e_SClBby Edward Robertson The Elite Travel Group has launched a scheme for members who want to forge better marketing agreements with suppliers. The Ethos group is the...

News.
August 3, 2007... Legionnaires fear for UK cruise passengers Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has confirmed that seven passengers on a cruise out of Dover have been admitted to hospital in Sweden with pneumonia-like symptoms. In a statement the company said the...

News.
August 3, 2007... update on legionnaires story for web Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has confirmed that two British cruise passengers have tested positive for Legionnaires' disease after falling ill last week. On Friday seven passengers were hospitalised...

Opodo toughens up fraud prevention.(News)
August 3, 2007... Online travel firm Opodo has chosen Retail Decisions to help prevent fraud on its UK, German, French and Italian websites. Owned by Amadeus, the world's largest processor of travel bookings, Opodo said it would use the service to spot...

no place like home.(News)
August 3, 2007... Could tourism be partly to blame for the fact that many survivors of the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004 remain in temporary shelters? Ian Taylor reports The recent floods in Britain have given a taste of what rising sea levels mean...

Flybe holds fast-track talks.(News)
August 3, 2007... Flybe is in talks with airport operators to add fast-track security channels to the perks it offers premium travellers, after launching a frequent-flyer scheme last week. Marketing director Simon Lilley confirmed the regional carrier is in...

Liverpool charges [pounds sterling]2 for speedy security.(Aviation)
August 3, 2007... Liverpool John Lennon Airport has introduced a [pounds sterling]2 charge for passengers using a fast-track security channel. But the charge drew immediate flak from the Air Transport Users' Council which said passengers were being asked to...

News.
August 3, 2007... Heathrow blow The Government has admitted delays at Heathrow are hitting London's economy, with business travellers put off by the hassle of using the airport. Economic secretary to the Treasury Kitty Ussher conceded: "I don't...

Ryanair threatens to ground jets.(Aviation)
August 3, 2007... Ryanair has threatened to ground seven of its 40-aircraft fleet at Stansted this winter rather than pay increased airport charges. Reporting a 20% increase in first quarter profits to [euro]139 million, chief executive Michael O'Leary said:...

Setback for second Silverjet service.(Aviation)
August 3, 2007... Silverjet had to postpone the launch of its second daily service between Luton and New York Newark this week after checks revealed technical problems with the first of its two Boeing 767s. The second aircraft entered service in mid-July...

TAM crash sparks fury at government.(News)
August 3, 2007... Outcry at underfunding of Brazilian air infrastructure Ian Taylor The crash of a TAM Airbus A320 at SA[pounds sterling]o Paulo's Congonhas airport which killed 199 people has caused a furore in Brazil, with the government accused of...

Virgin space project set back by fatal explosion.(News)
August 3, 2007... Three killed in blast at rocket developer's test site in Mojave Desert, California Ian Taylor Sir Richard Branson's hopes of sending tourists into space suffered a tragic blow last week when an explosion at Virgin Galactic's base in...

News.
August 3, 2007... In brief Suite means business Eaton Hotel in Hong Kong is launching a suite aimed at business travellers. It will be available in August this year at [pounds sterling]125 a night. The BizSuite is a 37sq metre room which includes a...

Group defies injunction against Heathrow protest.(News)
August 3, 2007... Climate change protest groups say they will go ahead with planned disruption at Heathrow on August 19 regardless of the injunction being sought by BAA in the High Court. Campaign umbrella group Camp for Climate Action, said it expects...

News.
August 3, 2007... * Allow enough time to get to the airport, but don't arrive more than two hours before a short-haul flight or three hours before long-haul. * Check-in desks close 40 minutes before departure. * Pack bottled liquids and toiletries...

Website tells of check-in chaos.(News)
August 3, 2007... As airlines blame airport queues on BAA, survey says bigger problems are afoot "All airlines know how many people to expect on any day. Why is it so difficult to manage?" Ian Taylorian.taylor@rbi.co.uk Airlines heap the blame for...

News.
August 3, 2007... Advance passenger information British Airways requirements from the trade on bookings to fulfil Advance Passenger Information: * Document type (passport) * Country which issued passport (three letter code) * Passport number...

BA issues ultimatum to trade.(News)
August 3, 2007... Exclusive Airline to fine agents for not providing passenger details, in effort to speed airport check-in "[The new rule] allows British Airways to control our clients" Edward Robertsoned.robertson@rbi.co.uk British Airways is...

Criminal charges may follow BA fine.(News)
August 3, 2007... Staff could face prison after airline admits surcharge collusion Ian Taylorian.taylor@rbi.co.uk The heavy fines imposed on British Airways on Wednesday suggest criminal charges could follow the carrier's admission of collusion with...

Airline complaints are on the increase.(News)
August 3, 2007... EC warns carriers need to show 'significant improvement' Ian Taylorian.taylor@rbi.co.uk Consumer complaints against airlines rose in the past year, but at a slower rate than in 2005/06, when there was a sharp increase following a...

News.
August 3, 2007... The Malta Tourism Authority is hoping three episodes of Coronation Street this week will help fuel interest in the country. Soap fans saw Corrie characters Steve McDonald and Eileen Grimshaw arrive in Malta on Wednesday. The episodes tonight...

News.
August 3, 2007... late news Collision at Heathrow Two British Airways aircraft collided while taxiing at Heathrow Terminal 4 last Friday, causing up to [pounds sterling]1 million-worth of damage. A Boeing 777 carrying 200 passengers about to depart for...

Sunstar backs down after package claim.(News)
August 3, 2007... Exclusive Operator settles out of court with injured woman Edward Robertsoned.robertson@rbi.co.uk Sunstar Leisure has agreed an out-of-court settlement with a client after backing down in the face of a legal challenge under the Package...

Ryanair will comply but not until 2008.(News)
August 3, 2007... Ryanair has confirmed it will comply with Office of Fair Trading demands to include all taxes, fees and charges in prices, but said it may not do so until next year. The OFT declined to comment on possible enforcement action, but a Ryanair...

News.
August 3, 2007... late news Singapore is Brit hit UK visitors to Singapore during the first six months of this year increased by 5% compared with the same period last year, to reach a record 260,000 visitors. Singapore received 488,000 UK visitors last...

Security pressure could lead to industrial action.(News)
August 3, 2007... Growing pressure on airport security staff threatens to exacerbate delays by boiling over into industrial action. Sources in the T&G section of trade union Unite warn feelings among staff at Stansted "may spill over" any day. The union has...

Western and Oriental eyes specialist acquisitions.(News)
August 3, 2007... Western and Oriental is eyeing US, China, Australia and New Zealand specialist operators as it pledges to spend a further [pounds sterling]10 million on acquisitions. Chairman David Howell said the luxury travel group is considering sector...

News.
August 3, 2007... Charles and Camilla show their concern Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, called in at flood-hit Pound Savers Travel in Upton upon Severn during a visit to the town. Managing director Tim Lean said: "They were extremely nice...