Travel Weekly (UK) articles from December 2005

Travel Weekly (UK) archives from December 2005

Leger's delicious Disney chocolate giveaway.
December 2, 2005... Countdown to Christmas with one of 50 limited-edition Disney chocolate advent calendars. Leger Holidays, the only UK tour operator providing four ways to travel to Disney - coach, air, Eurostar and self-drive - has launched a special...

features.
December 2, 2005... Q Do agents need their own ATOL to sell Avro flights? A They can trade with us on an ATOL- to-ATOL basis but also buy from us as a retailer under the collective agreements we with have with ABTA, Global and other groups. Q When selling...

Features.
December 2, 2005... *****return fare****Airline****Most popular month New York****[pounds sterling]294****American Airlines****April Bangkok****[pounds sterling]375****Etihad Airways****February Dubai****[pounds sterling]249****CZA Czech...

Something to sing about.
December 2, 2005... TW2's mates Lee Ryan and G4 popped into TW Towers to wish us all a happy Christmas and left behind their recent albums for us to give away to one lucky reader. You know the deal - the first postcard out of the bag on December 16 wins. Merry...

Who was having a ball at ABTA?
December 2, 2005... The 29th ABTA Irish Open sponsored by Tourism Ireland and Irish Ferries, and the 26th ABTA Portugal Tennis Tournament sponsored by the Portuguese National Tourist Office, Caravela Tours, TAP Portugal and Travel Weekly, took place at the...

Features.
December 2, 2005... *****Return fare****Airline****Attracts Dalaman****[pounds sterling]145****Thomas Cook****Well-travelled holidaymakers,*************property owners Crete****[pounds sterling]149****Thomas Cook****Couples, broad age range ...

Features.
December 2, 2005... *****return fare****Airline****Attracts Malaga****[pounds sterling]69 plus tax****Thomson****Property owners, hen parties,*****************families Tenerife****[pounds sterling]59 plus tax****MyTravel****Sun-lovers, families,...

News.
December 2, 2005... June 2004 Introduces a [pounds sterling]2.50 fuel surcharge per sector, both short-haul and long-haul August 2004 Increases long-haul surcharge to [pounds sterling]6 per sector October 2004 Increases short-haul surcharge...

Cruise Control staff wait for lost wages.
December 2, 2005... CRUISE Control staff made redundant when the agency collapsed will get back wages owed to them - but face a long wait. Liquidator PricewaterhouseCooper confirmed it is "highly likely" the 121 contracted employees will be paid, although full...

Time to stand up and be counted.
December 2, 2005... A lot of agents are going to suffer from the commission cuts by big tour operators, resulting in the loss of jobs. The agency consortia say this is unacceptable, but the big operators say they will not budge. The likes of Triton will send...

A week in Khao Lak, Thailand.
December 2, 2005... first choice 8 Friargate The consultant flicked through a few long-haul brochures, but couldn't find Khao Lak. After a few minutes, she tried to find out which operators featured the resort by looking at Gazetteers Plus online,...

And would you like ice with that?
December 2, 2005... THE checklist for my trip to the Antarctic included sunglasses, camera and champagne. But no corned beef, husky sledge, or thermal undies. Not today. I was with 300 other day trippers at Sydney Airport on board a Qantas jumbo about to take...

Airlines held over a barrel.
December 2, 2005... FUEL has become a four-letter word for the travel industry over the past 12 months. Airlines claim the rising price of fuel is putting a massive dent in their hard-won profits. Tour operators say it's near-impossible to stay competitive...

Bag a bargain in Thailand.
December 2, 2005... Hotels in areas of Thailand worst affected by the 2004 tsunami have cut prices to try to boost business during the peak winter season. Some properties in resorts on the Andaman coast, including Phuket, are offering two weeks for the price...

Thomsonfly to start direct Phuket flights.
December 2, 2005... Thomson has responded to a call from the Tourism Authority of Thailand for direct flights to Phuket with the launch of weekly charters from both Gatwick and Manchester, starting next November. The flights, which will be the only direct...

TAT UK office faces more budget cuts.
December 2, 2005... THE Tourism Authority of Thailand's UK office is facing budget cuts for the second year running, despite the need to promote the destination following last year's tsunami. UK marketing director Richard Hume said the UK budget has been cut...

Everyone loves a new Thai.
December 2, 2005... A year ago, Richard Hume of the Tourism Authority of Thailand described the country's emerging resorts as a "godsend", saying they kept "even the most well-travelled of travellers coming back". Today, his words are even more valid as it is...

Features.
December 2, 2005... news in brief SUNSAIL'S SECOND Sunsail has opened a second base in Thailand in the resort of Ko Samui, set up to complement its base in Phuket. It is offering bareboat, skippered and flotilla charters will be offered from Ko Samui....

Key Resorts rebrands to launch global website.
December 2, 2005... TRADE-only accommodation provider Key Resorts has gone global, almost doubling its hotel offerings and rebranding as Getabed.co.uk. The company, known as a US and Canada specialist, unveiled its programme with booking facilities for 30,000...

CAA reports rise in ATOL applications.
December 2, 2005... There has been a significant rise in the number of ATOL applications since 2003, when it became illegal for an agent to put together packages without an ATOL, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. Some 2,400 companies now hold an ATOL...

Extras are a nice little earner.
December 2, 2005... Did you know you could potentially double your commission when you sell a flight by persuading the client to book extras such as airport parking, insurance and taxi transfers? Think of them as 'essentials' and you might find them easier to...

The long and the short of it.
December 2, 2005... Short-haul destinations are the bread and butter of the flight-only market, but suppliers claim the greatest growth lies in long haul. They say they are seeing a rise in demand for more exotic destinations such as Mexico, India and Egypt. ...

Monarch claims territory.
December 2, 2005... MONARCH Scheduled has based one of its aircraft overseas for the first time as a cost-effective way of serving smaller routes in the UK. The airline has put a 180-passenger Airbus A320 at Malaga Airport to operate daily flights to...

Features.
December 2, 2005... far east OFFERINGS Hayes and Jarvis has launched a dedicated Far East brochure with a new direct reservations number: 0870 89 28 280. New to the brochure are seven-night round-trip Star Flyer cruises from Phuket, two new hotels in northern...

A taste of the finer things Those with a nose for chardonnay should head to the Margaret River wine region in Western Australia.
December 2, 2005... THINK Western Australia and the words hot, red and dusty spring to mind. However, head just three hours south of Perth and you could almost be in Dorset. Green rolling hills, grazing cows, narrow country lanes, towering trees and vintage...

Features.
December 2, 2005... Where is it? In the heart of the Margaret River, sitting in 10 hectares of parkland, surrounding a large lake. 44444 What's it like? A five-star boutique hotel with its own vineyard. It has 22 rooms with whirlpool baths, DVD...

Kirra Tours offers up ice adventures.
December 2, 2005... NEW ZEALAND specialist Kirra Tours has launched a dedicated Guided Tours and Adventures programme to appeal to clients wanting to get off the beaten track. The 14-page brochure offers walks on both islands for all levels of fitness...

Qantas launches Ghan rail codeshare.
December 2, 2005... ESCORTED touring specialist Scenic Tours has given its New Zealand programme its biggest ever shake-up following extensive customer research. The operator, which mainly sells to the over-50s market, has introduced eight more options to its...

Southern additions for Virgin.
December 2, 2005... VIRGIN Holidays has added the Cook Islands and French Polynesia to its new-look Australia and New Zealand brochure on the back of its successful Fiji programme launched two years ago. "Fiji as a destination has sold well," said worldwide...

InterCity pass sales soar.
December 2, 2005... INTERCITY Group, incorporating InterCity and Newmans Coach Lines, has seen sales of its flexible New Zealand coach pass rocket since it launched in the UK last year. Account manager Naomi Pearce said: "Our aim was to sell [pounds...

Tourism Australia signs SIA deal.
December 2, 2005... TOURISM Australia has just signed a [pounds sterling]5 million marketing agreement with Singapore Airlines. The deal forms part of its three-year corporate strategy launched at the annual Australia Tourist Exchange conference in Perth this...

New flights to take off from Manchester.
December 2, 2005... MANCHESTER Airport will benefit from the rise in demand for domestic air travel over the next few months with the launch of 88 new services from the northwest hub. The new routes will take the hub's total number of weekly departures to UK...

News.
December 2, 2005... Midconsort says 'no' Apostal ballot of Midconsort members has found none of the 40 who have responded so far want to join Triton. Research in to the pros and cons of joining the new super-consortium will be presented to the Midconsort...

Upbeat Toon rocking Jet2.
December 2, 2005... No-frills carrier Jet2 is launching three new flights out of Newcastle next year, flying to Amsterdam, Pisa and Minorca. A spokesman said this will double the airline's capacity out of Newcastle International Airport. Jet2 aims to be the...

Business confidence returns.
December 2, 2005... TRAVELmanagement companies are benefiting from an increase in overnight hotel stays by business travellers who are looking to pack more into a single trip. Guild of Travel Management Companies' figures have revealed its 33 members recorded...

Features.
December 2, 2005... IT'S the party season, so at TW2 we thought we'd give you a dose of full-on glamour Stateside-style to get your festive spirits soaring. Whether you're after some sassy Sex and the City-style tips, or you want to know the latest hotel...

Get away from it all with the girls.
December 2, 2005... IF you and your friends are struck down with the winter blues, look no further than the US for a fun-packed girlie break. Kimpton Hotels has launched a series of Girlfriends' Getaway packages. For shopaholics, how about the Downtown Divas...

Features.
December 2, 2005... Carrie and co started the craze for cosmopolitans in Sex and the City, but today mixologists create everything from pisco sours to lychee bellinis. In the NYC and Company-produced Cocktails in New York: Where to Find 100 Classics and How...

Corroboree heads south.
December 2, 2005... MORE than 200 UK travel agents touched down in Australia last week for Corroboree, a marketing showcase to promote the country. The event, which took place in the South Australia capital of Adelaide, saw UK travel agents talk to around 180...

Virgin Nigeria in Gatwick switch.
December 2, 2005... VIRGINNigeria has switched flights to Gatwick from Heathrow to offer improved connections to business and leisure passengers. The airline, which only launched London services from Lagos in June, will continue to offer a thrice-weekly...

Titan heads upstream.
December 2, 2005... TITAN HiTours is launching luxury cruising on the rivers of Europe following a deal with American operators Uniworld. The new programme consists of 21 cruises in Europe and Russia and is being included in the Grand River Cruises March to...

A wheely good move for Exodus.
December 2, 2005... EXODUS has included 12 new trips in its 2006/07 cycling holiday programme. New additions include the 15-day Cycling to MachuPicchu tour, the 13-day Lake District of Chile and Argentina trip and the Classic Colours of the Giro D'Italia...

Go direct to Shetland.
December 2, 2005... ATLANTICAirways is launching a direct flight from London to Shetland next summer. The Faroe Islands carrier will operate twice-weekly from Stansted to Sumburgh between June 23 and September 4. If successful, the service will be year-round....

Selected CWT offer.
December 2, 2005... SPECIALLY selected clients of Carlson Wagonlit Travel will qualify for discounted entry to airport lounges at 50 worldwide locations. Customers must be CWT Corporate Select or UK Government Travel Group Select members to gain the privilege,...

Winter-blues Brits look to Middle East.
December 2, 2005... MIDDLE Eastern destinations are predicted to be winners this Christmas out of the UK as Brits look to escape what is forecast to be one of the coldest winters on record. According to ABTA, Egypt has already experienced a 54% increase in UK...

UK visitors show resilient streak.
December 2, 2005... UK holidaymakers are still willing to travel abroad in greater numbers despite the tsunami, hurricanes and terrorist bombings this year, according to ABTA. The number of British holiday visits abroad in the first six months of this year is...

Spain still a hit with UK despite slow growth.
December 2, 2005... THE number of UK visitors to Spain has only grown by 1% this year - but it remains our favourite holiday destination. According to Trip-Vision, a consumer behaviour analyst company, 45% of UK holidaymakers to Spain this summer booked a...

Small firms risk health and safety fallout.
December 2, 2005... THE Government's Business Link organisation has published research that revealed many small businesses do not have the time to implement proper health and safety measures even though it could save them money in the long run. Of the 275...

It's more park life.
December 2, 2005... HOSEASONS has launched its biggest Holiday Lodges and Parks in Britain programme with an emphasis on pampering. Sixty new destinations have been added to the 2006 programme, bringing the total to 370, with most dedicated to the luxury end...

An early call for Thomas Cook Tours.
December 2, 2005... THOMAS Cook Tours has released its second-edition November 2005 to December 2007 brochure earlier than ever before to include more early-booking deals. Head of Thomas Cook Tours Kathy Farahat said the move is in response to demand....

Kuoni unveils new Morocco collection.
December 2, 2005... KUONI has nearly doubled the amount of product it offers in Morocco due to the launch of its Specialist Collection range. Specialist travel senior product manager Ellis Cain-Jones said following a 65% year-on-year increase in bookings, he...

Some people go out of their motorway to help.
December 2, 2005... WHEN things go wrong on a trip, it's nice to know you're with an operator prepared to go the extra mile to help. But even The Insider was impressed by the Association of Independent Tour Operators' JonoVernon-Powell after last week's...

Paws for a thought of Silversea.
December 2, 2005... AGENTS are being encouraged to 'bear' luxury cruiseline Silversea in mind when booking an Alaskan cruise. Marking the launch of its 2006 Voyage Atlas, Silversea is offering a grizzly bear toy with every Alaskan cruise booked. Also up...

'Easy Rider' add-on from Ocean Village.
December 2, 2005... OCEAN Village has released details of its winter Caribbean Action Ashore activities, introducing a tour of the Dutch Antilles island of St Martin aboard Harley Davidson motorbikes for the first time. The Highlights by Harley tour costs...

South America on Seadream's agenda.
December 2, 2005... SEADREAM Yacht Club has included 10 sailings in South America in its winter 2006/07 itineraries. The 110-passenger Seadream 1 will sail to Brazil from Tenerife in October 2006 before operating between Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. ...

Cruising for a bruising.
December 2, 2005... Travelzest boss Chris Mottershead told agents to prepare for a decline in cruising commission in the next 10 years. Caroline James reports SPECIALISTcruise agents have been warned robust...

Podcasting could spell the end for guidebooks.
December 2, 2005... THE days of squeezing guidebooks into suitcases may be numbered. Thomson Holidays has launched free 'pod-cast' audio destination guide downloads for MP3 players. Demand is expected to match that for Thomson's online destination videos...

A sporting endeavour.
December 2, 2005... THOMAS Cook hopes to sell 75,000 spa and sport breaks in 2006 following the launch of its first dedicated programme. The brochure offers 20 hotels in 15 destinations, including Mexico, Egypt, Greece andPortugal. Chief executive Manny...

'Operators biting Spanish hand'.
December 2, 2005... TOUR operators are biting the hand that feeds them by reducing guarantees on Spanish hotels, said ex-TUI UK boss Chris Mottershead. He claimed Spanish hoteliers would work less with operators because they can sell product just as easily...

Mottershead slams big spenders.
December 2, 2005... THE big US travel companies will struggle in the UK, if they are not doing so already, Travelzest boss Chris Mottershead has warned. Expedia, Cendant and Sabre Holdings have grown through acquisitions, but Mottershead said the trend could...

Having a chat, region by region.
December 2, 2005... AGENTScan talk to each other in online chatrooms for each ABTA region, via an intranet link. Knock Travel managing director and ABTA aviation committee chairwoman Doreen McKenzie said members will be encouraged to use the chatrooms to...

Lastminute courts specialist business.
December 2, 2005... LASTMINUTE.COM has urged more specialist tour operators to sell through its site. The online retailer accounts for 20% of some specialists' sales, according to Lastminute holidays director John Bevan. But he said many operators...

Fresh approach for trade.
December 2, 2005... ON Holiday Group's tour operation is encouraging agents to switch-sell away from the big four. Agents made around 3,000 bookings this year through recently revamped independent website Freshholidays and its sister lates brand...

'Make rules clear' says ex-ABTA boss.
December 2, 2005... FORMER ABTA president John Harding has called for a change to ABTA's code of conduct to tackle fuel supplements. The code covers surcharges by operators, but Harding said the argument over fuel supplements showed the rules are not...

Profits in shadow of slowdown.
December 2, 2005... RECORD-breaking profits at Thomas Cook could be hit by a slump in consumer confidence - just as it becomes the first of the big four to break the magic 5% margin barrier. Chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa said full-year results to...

MSC training gives trade taste of 'Italian flavour'.
December 2, 2005... MEDITTERANEAN Shipping Cruises will showcase its newest ship, Musica, to agents during 10 training sessions taking place around the UK this month. The Italian cruiseline is undergoing massive expansion, having placed orders for two...

Ethical sector gains foothold.
December 2, 2005... HOLIDAYMAKERSwill soon be demanding guarantees of responsible tourism, according to a report unveiled by Cendant at the ABTA Travel Convention. The World of Travel in 2020, complied by think-tank the Future Foundation, predicts responsible...

Cendant: 'We'll grow, not buy'.
December 2, 2005... CENDANT has signalled the end of a four-year spending spree, insisting it will focus on organic growth through the trade rather than acquisitions. The US group's president of travel distribution services and chief executive of...

Features.
December 2, 2005... Gatwick's south terminal was a riot of dodgy highlights, French manicures and fake bling last week - and that was just the blokes - as the cream of the British travel industry set off for the ABTA Travel Convention. Fashion faux pas...

Prawn again? Not Gerald...
December 2, 2005... CONTROVERSIAL retailer Gerald Ratner has insisted price is still the most important thing for consumers - despite the famous gaffe about the quality of his products. Ratner - who lost his job as chief executive of jewellery business...

Ratner's the way to do it.
December 2, 2005... Gerald Ratner's speech during the ABTATravel Convention was pitched somewhere between the inspirational speaker and business guru, but he soon got delegates on his side with his frank humour and disarming honesty. "I'm loathe to give you...

'Shops will go,' insists Manny.
December 2, 2005... EXPIRINGshop leases will offer Thomas Cook the opportunity to move more of its business online in coming years. Chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa has revealed two-thirds of property leases on the company's 600-strong shop network will...

Turnout has ABTA smiling.
December 2, 2005... ABTA expressed satisfaction that one in four delegates at this year's convention were agents. There were 378 among the 1,550 delegates in Marrakesh, 76 more than in Orlando last year, when delegate numbers were similar. However, the...

Look on the bright side, says Tanzer.
December 2, 2005... ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer believes the industry should be more positive about its future. He told the ABTA Travel Convention: "It seems this industry is always doing itself down." Tanzer - in the top job just two months -...

Service revamp puts new life into JMC.
December 2, 2005... APPALLING customer service at JMC nearly ruined the brand, Thomas Cook chief executive Manny Fontenla-Novoa revealed. "Three years ago, I looked at our customer service delivery," he said. "It was good in retail, but in JMC it was...

Who pays the price?
December 2, 2005... AGENTS who criticise tour operators for adding fuel supplements to package prices don't understand the issues, Thomas Cook commercial director Ian Derbyshire told the ABTA Travel Convention. But Co-operative Travel Trading Group chief...

'Airlines will go bust'.
December 2, 2005... AIRLINES have attacked gloomy predictions by Chris Mottershead many will go bust by 2015. He said Europe's 60-plus airlines will not survive unless they "have a firm grip" on costs. Mottershead said no-frills operators are "the only...

Features.
December 2, 2005... Belly dancers: forget Vegas - these girls can really shake their stuff. Tony Byrne on the other hand Winter sun: 25C in November - bit of a shock coming back to Blighty though Being responsible: climate change takes a place...

Cold feet.
December 2, 2005... UNWARY visitors to Marrakesh should watch out for traditional indoor water features. A warning that comes all too late for these ABTA Travel Convention delegates. Most spectacularly, Comtec product director Edward Whiting (left) took the...

Let battle commence.
December 2, 2005... THOMSON and Thomas Cook have pledged to take on the online retailers next year by developing their dynamic packaging and web capabilities. Thomson sales and marketing director Miles Morgan said the operator will beat Expedia and...

Tough talk from agents.
December 2, 2005... Independent agents have threatened to sell fewer Thomson holidays and even remove the operator's brochures from shops. Triton, the umbrella commercial group of Advantage, Worldchoice and the Global Travel Group, said its members will sell...

Cruiselines set sail for Bermuda.
December 2, 2005... NORWEGIAN Cruise Lines and Costa Cruises have both announced new itineraries for 2006 calling at Bermuda. Costa Cruises' Costa Magica will be sailing two seven-night round-trip itineraries leaving Fort Lauderdale on April 21 and 28 with...

Follow the leader.
December 2, 2005... The Hotel Mogadon in Marrakesh must be the only accommodation ever featured at an ABTA Convention not to serve alcohol. I'm guessing that Tom Knopek from Dollar Thrifty stayed there because it would explain his attempt to walk on water to reach...

Thomson flexes its muscles.
December 2, 2005... THOMSON Holidays will slash agents' base commission payments to 7% from the start of next year in a bid to cut prices and take control of discounting. The country's biggest tour operator announced the move at the ABTA Travel Convention,...