Travel Weekly (UK) articles from December 2006

Travel Weekly (UK) archives from December 2006

News.
December 8, 2006... Hogg Robinson has won a contract to provide the travel arrangements for the Australian Government. The travel management company will provide its services to senators, members of Parliament and staff for the Australian Department of...

News.
December 8, 2006... A new online training tool for the travel and tourism industry was launched this week Backed by the Tourism Department for Culture, Media and Sport and People 1st, UKSkillspassport.com provides skills development tools, information, advice and...

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December 8, 2006... Avis has launched its new website in a bid to make booking a car more easy. The car rental company has simplified the language and made it easier to navigate. Functions include a multiple booking option as well as search button to find the...

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December 8, 2006... Continental Airlines is launching its own holiday brand in the UK with tour operator Funway Holidays International today (Friday). Continental Airlines Vacations is offering a range of holidays, based on the scheduled services of the airline...

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December 8, 2006... The Jordan Tourism Board saw almost 200 agents attend one of its roadshows last week as it prepares to work closer with the trade next year. The three-day event which stopped in Chester, Cheltenham and Crawley was supported by operators,...

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December 8, 2006... The new $90 million Premium Terminal at Doha International Airport was opened last week to mark the start of the 15th Asian Games. The terminal features facilities ranging from exclusive check-in, duty-free shopping, conference rooms,...

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December 8, 2006... TTG had a story on the agent training this week - i called pr but she was getting info on it later this week so i have just put a bit at the bottom. AVIS has launched a new website in a bid to make it more customer friendly and easier to...

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December 8, 2006... The management team of ATP have completed a buy out of the company in a ?63 million deal. As part of the deal, Lloyds TSB Development Capital has invested ?24 million into the travel and event management company. Formerly owned by a...

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December 8, 2006... Hotel chain, The Ritz-Carlton Company has added new schemes to make life easier for business travellers. The Ritz-Carlton Hotels of New York has introduced its ?Eight minute Airport Shuttle? package to cut down on the waiting time at John...

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December 8, 2006... Time to decide on climate change A recent academic report that suggested the Government should rein in aviation because of its impact on climate change drew a sharp response from the industry. Ian Taylor spoke to the author Industry...

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December 8, 2006... With the $2 pound in sight the British market is ?booming? to New York and agents are being encouraged to send customers across the Atlantic. However agents have seen mixed demand for travel across to the States for Christmas shopping or...

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December 8, 2006... pg3 downpage Norwegian Cruise Line has put its single-ship discovery-style cruise operator Orient Lines up for sale. The company that operates the Marco Polo, a former Russian icebreaker, in Antarctica, South America and the Mediterranean....

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December 8, 2006... could do with quote from VAT expert Accommodation-only suppliers are believed to be looking at how to avoid paying VAT but still offer third-party liability insurance to avoid having to raise costs. The speculation follows news a raft of...

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December 8, 2006... Premium passengers with Etihad Airways can now check-in at a new facility when travelling from Abu Dhabi International Airport. The new check-in area will provide Diamond and Pearl Zone guests with the latest flight information via TV...

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December 8, 2006... Trade only accommodation provider Hotels4U is offering free airport transfers in a new bookings to four of its top destinations this month. Throughout December holidaymakers booking a trip to Egypt, Turkey, Tenerife or Benidorm through...

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December 8, 2006... pic should be in last week? file - it was a nice one - or else reporter might still have it (kelly or paul?) The Midcounties Co-operative has appointed Annette Manning as Co-op Travel Holiday Clubs corporate sales manager. Manning, a former...

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December 8, 2006... P5 vox pop Why do you think are there still less women at director level in the travel industry? ?For lots of reasons - women are never really given the same opportunities and when most women may reach a climax in their careers it...

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December 8, 2006... Future Travel stepped in following the closure of the Thomson call centre in Glasgow and as a result has recruited 18 new homeworkers. Travel Weekly reported last week that Thomson had closed the call centre down early and said that more...

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December 8, 2006... Future Travel has gone green by planting an almond tree outside the Almond Beach Club in Barbados. Each year, every homeworker that makes a booking for the resort will go into a draw and one person and their partner will win a trip to measure...

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December 8, 2006... *Pic of rebecca if you want it Hays Travel plans to have more than 400 homeworkers by this time next year as it reaches its target of recruiting its 250th homeworker this year. At the beginning of 2006, Hays had just 130 homeworkers but...

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December 8, 2006... Travel and expense provider KDS and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives are launching a joint survey on climate changes in business travel. Targeting business travellers, carbon emissions and trends will be analysed and the results...

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December 8, 2006... Accommodation website OctopusTravel.com, has launched a new microsite with ticket providers International Rail to book rail travel. The new rail website, www.octopustravel-rail.com, gives customers the opportunity to purchase over 30 types...

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December 8, 2006... GDS provider Galileo UK is launching its AirText system this week to provide travellers with up-to-the-minute flight information on thier mobile. AirText has been based on feedback from agents, according to Galileo so they can provide...

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December 8, 2006... The Future Shape of UK Holiday Distribution column - needs cutting William Burton, former Strategy Head of BA, Sales & Online Director of Thomson and Sales & Marketing Director of Thistle Hotels returns to travel from a year as Chief...

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December 8, 2006... Cosmos Holidays has added new pre-bookable attraction tickets to its second edition Florida 2007 brochure as well as expanding its range of accommodation in Orlando and the Gulf Coast. Popular tickets including the Universal Orlando 2 day/2...

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December 8, 2006... Gazetteers.com launched its daily poll earlier this year asking travel agents a whole of host of questions. The response has seen up to 870 agents logging a day and giving their opinion on the poll, which covered a whole range of questions...

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December 8, 2006... First Choice has apologised to disappointed families after a flight to Lapland to see Santa Claus was cancelled. According to reports police had to be called to Cardiff Airport on Sunday after some parents were left angered when they were...

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December 8, 2006... The Civil Aviation Authority has warned airports operator BAA to expect a tougher cap on landing fees from 2008, but told airlines to expect costs at Heathrow to outstrip inflation, suggesting infrastructure developments will be concentrated...

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December 8, 2006... pg17 downpage Longwood Holidays says it has been forced to offer accommodation only for the first time on selected hotels because of demand from agents. Managing director Rafi Caplin said around half of all the operator? properties will be...

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December 8, 2006... Travel extras company APH has launched a new look website to target specialist customers as well as offering a quote and buy process. The site has been designed and developed by brand and digital media agency Rufus Leonard and following...

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December 8, 2006... by Edward Robertson Let? Go Travel founder and former owner Simon Maunder is building a hotel as part of a ?10 million development aimed at cashing in on domestic tourism. He said the hotel will be built at Richmond Dock, which will be...

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December 8, 2006... by Edward Robertson Homeworking company Calls Online is hoping to sign up new tour operators in time for the January peaks market. Managing director Lindsey Herbert said the company already provides homeworkers to fulfill calls for RCI...

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December 8, 2006... Three British Airways Boeing 767s removed from service after the discovery of traces of radioactive material linked to the poisoning of Russian Alexander Litvinenko were back in service this week with the blessing of the Health Protection...

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December 8, 2006... Support has grown in the UK to boycott Legacy hotels after the company announced its plans to build a hotel complex close to Victoria Falls. Tour operator Tribes managing director Amanda Marks said ?more and more operators are voicing...

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December 8, 2006... Chris McFadden?07968 2109599 Needs a quote, response from ABTA and Classic collection. EXCLUSIVE A former travel agent has the most difficult decision of his life to make next Monday as Classic Collection chase him for ?2,000 following...

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December 8, 2006... Civil Aviation Authority proposals for future pricing at UK airports have angered both the main airport operator and airlines. BAA claimed a tougher price regime at Stansted threatened investment across its London airports, while British...

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December 8, 2006... The White House pulled the plug on the latest attempt at an open skies deal to liberalise flying between the US and European Union when it dropped plans to relax rules on foreign investment in US carriers - a condition of an agreement with...

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December 8, 2006... Trials of a Virgin Atlantic proposal to cut aircraft emissions at airports will begin at Heathrow and Gatwick this month. Departing Virgin aircraft will be towed from the gate to a holding area close to the runway where the engines will...

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December 8, 2006... by Edward Robertson VisitBritain will start the new year with a new chairman as Lord Marshall of Knightsbridge is replaced by Christopher Rodrigues. The appointment, which takes effect on January 1, has been made by the Department for...

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December 8, 2006... by Edward Robertson A voluntourism operator is to start selling trips through the trade in a bid to more than double sales. Different Travel founder Adrian Yalland said the company was set up two years ago and combines package tours with...

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December 8, 2006... by Edward Robertson Ski operators are holding their breath after up to 10cm of snow fell in the Alps this week. They are desperately hoping for more after one of the warmest autumns in Europe has left ski resorts predominantly in the Alps...

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December 8, 2006... A number of travel firms have been named in The Sunday Times/Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 list. The list, published at the weekend, shows the fastest growing companies (based on sales) of the year - hotel operator Kew Green Hotels is...

News.
December 15, 2006... Setting sailHebridean Spirit will be in the Mediterranean in summer 2007 and will visit the Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, Algeria and Rome for the first time.The May 22 departure includes two days at the Monaco Grand Prix with Murray...

Cheque out the bonus.
December 15, 2006... Emily BamberHebridean International Cruises will pay its top-selling agents ?2,000 if they meet their January and February 2007 sales targets. The announcement was made at the Hebridean Elite fourth anniversary event when Elite agents and...

MSC plans marketing blitz.
December 15, 2006... Italian cruiseline MSC has put a new management team in place promising to increase marketing activity in 2007 as it aimks to grab 8% of the UK market.UK and Ireland director Peter Pate has become chairman with Riccardo Benzo joining from Fred...

Silversea and Taj Hotels unite.
December 15, 2006... Silversea Cruises and Asian hotel group Taj Hotels have reached an agreement on a joint marketing alliance.It is hoped the brand awareness of the two companies will be increased by cross-marketing the brands through their distribution...

News.
December 15, 2006... in briefTravelling lightWindstar Cruises has introduced its Monogram luggage service, allowing customers to travel separately from their bags and avoid hassles at airports. The luxury operator has also expanded its scuba diving programme in the...

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December 15, 2006... D15-agencyrankingsTop 10 agency rankings123 Thomson Holidays4 Cheapflights.co.uk5 Thomas cook6 First Choice7 MyTravel UK8 Travel Supermarket.com9 Airline Network10 ebookers.com most reviewed resorts****Sharm*****el-Sheikh*****Playa de...

20ways to sell all- inclusive holidays.
December 15, 2006... 1. Budget friendly "People know the cost upfront," said Libra Holidays sales and marketing manager Kim Wonnacott.2. RelaxAll-inclusives are stress free for parents - not worrying about entertaining or feeding children. 3. Out and about "Sell...

The kidsare alright.
December 15, 2006... factsCoconut Bay's signature spa services include ocean front massages, Coconilla -a combination treatment, and a 'choose your own aloe' experienceFamily holidays often involve a compromise. While parents want to do as little as possible, there...

Superclubs booms.
December 15, 2006... Superclubs is boosting its Latin American product with new resorts in Brazil and Panama.The all-inclusive hotel group already has a Breezes resort near Costa du Sauipe in Brazil. The property has performed well this summer thanks to charter...

Airlines' concern over landing fees.
December 15, 2006... A shake-up in regulation will see landing charges at Heathrow increase ahead of inflation from 2008 if the Government accepts proposals by the Civil Aviation Authority.However, charges at Gatwick may be allowed to fall and price controls at...

Grim outlook for airlines in 2007.
December 15, 2006... The pressure for airline consolidation has rarely been greater, yet there appear as many barriers in the way as ever, making a rash of takeovers in the new year unlikely.Former BA chief executive Rod Eddington described the industry as...

A climate of confusion.
December 15, 2006... The Government is giving mixed messages about its attitude to air travel amid growing concern over climate change but expansion is expected to continue.On Thursday the Department for Transport was expected to reaffirm plans to expand Heathrow...

No open skies deal for US/EU.
December 15, 2006... The US government pulled the plug on the latest attempt at an open skies deal to liberalise flying between the US and the European Union when it dropped plans to relax rules on foreign investment in US carriers.This was a condition of the...

goodbyeto all that.
December 15, 2006... What did you want to do when you were young?I wanted to be an athlete because I loved sport - I thought I could win an Olympic medal! I was into sprinting and represented my school at javelin and netball. Then I wanted to be a journalist. But I...

The perfect places to slope off to.
December 15, 2006... Big White offers plenty of less challenging terrain for beginnersCanada offers such a variety of ski resorts there's more than one to suit every type of skier, but with so many to choose from it can be hard to decide which to book. Many resorts...

Festively dispirited?
December 15, 2006... Do our quiz to find out if you'll be the one providing the office gossip the day after the night beforee_SLps1. You've already been to two Christmas parties this week and now it's time for your office one. How do you feel?a) you can't wait....

APD hike is unwanted gift.
December 15, 2006... Happy Christmas, Mr Brown. As if 2006 hasn't been tough enough, the Chancellor decides to hit the industry in the pocket with a hike in Air Passenger Duty. With an incredibly short lead in time - the duty will double from February 1 - and no...

Triton pushes cruise deals.
December 15, 2006... Juliet DennisTriton is to send out exclusive cruise offers available through 50 of its members to 20,000 customers in January.The mailshot is part of a joint marketing and training scheme across the Advantage, Worldchoice and Global Travel...

Balmoral makesits mark.
December 15, 2006... Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has published its second-edition Worldwide Cruise Brochure 2007/08 featuring new ship Balmoral for the first time.The brochure for the 1,000-passenger vessel features 138 cruises plus a map at the back showing all the...

Reports back growth.
December 15, 2006... Two recent Government-commissioned reports have increased the likelihood of expansion at Heathrow sooner rather than later.The Eddington Report, which outlined a 30-year transport strategy, advocated a focus on investment in key gateways to...

News.
December 15, 2006... What is the average annual salary across all agents? ?15,600.What does the top seller earn ? In excess of ?120,000. What percentage earns more than the average salary across all workers? More than 65%.Average hours worked in a week? Most of...

Thrills with a luxury edge.
December 15, 2006... Visitors to the Maldives will find new activities and experiences on the agenda next year, as operators look to diversify the guest experience. Above ground, domestic flight operator Island Aviation is to launch sky diving in 2007, while Cosmos...

Twice the fun, double the value.
December 15, 2006... Agents trying to make money out of selling holidays to the Indian Ocean need to start putting together multi-centre itineraries in order to compete with online players, say operators.Somak Holidays managing director Stuart Britton said there...

A long game for First Choice.
December 15, 2006... First Choice Holidays confirmed its strong position in the UK with annual results showing a fourth consecutive year of double-digit earnings growth.It reported a 13% rise inoperating profit to ?135 million in the year to October, on a turnover...

News.
December 15, 2006... carriers face tough callAirlines could ask some, but not all, passengers for the extra tax on fares already paid, according to BATA secretary-general Roger Wiltshire.He said: "The extent to which airlines can approach customers for cash will...

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December 15, 2006... Airlines could ask some, but not all, passengers for the extra tax on fares already paid, according to BATA secretary-general Roger Wiltshire.He said: "The extent to which airlines can approach customers for cash will vary. Most have booking...

News.
December 15, 2006... tax rise will hit some more than othersSome tour operators risk suffering more than others from the tax rise because of the higher APD on long-haul travel and classes other than economy.A senior industry source said: "The amounts will be...

Offsetting pays price of soured relations.
December 15, 2006... Trade relations with the Government are at their lowest ebb, with industry figures pulling out of a media announcement about carbon offsetting with the Department for Environment on Monday.FTO director-general Andy Cooper said: "There should...

Vital ?1bn fills gap in public coffers.
December 15, 2006... The Government has refused to budge because it needs the ?1 billion from the APD rise, which will account for half the additional tax raised in last week's pre-Budget Report.In meetings with the trade, Treasury officials reportedly admitted the...

News.
December 15, 2006... Government determined to double duty despite industry's lobbying effortsAnger at ?144m APD bill Ian Taylorian.taylor@rbi.co.ukFrantic industry efforts to reverse the Treasury's doubling of Air Passenger Duty appeared doomed this week, leaving...

News.
December 15, 2006... Trade prepares to 'shame' Government for tax hikeIan Taylorian.taylor@rbi.co.ukMajor tour operators areconsidering a consumer campaign to publicise the impact of the Air Passenger Dutyincrease and embarrass the Government.No details of the...

CT2 failure hits 37,000 clients.
December 15, 2006... The Civil Aviation Authority called the ?7 million bond of seat-only supplier CT2 on Wednesday.The Manchester-based company, that operated as HCCT (Holidays) and ransister company LOCOFlights had 37,000 forward bookings and 1,000 customers...

Cadogan arrivals steer fresh course.
December 15, 2006... Lee Hayhurstlee.hayhurst@rbi.co.ukCadogan Holidays hasrevealed plans to expand into cruise, the Middle East and the Indian Ocean after completing a new-look management team bringing in Geoff Lawrence from the Excel Leisure Group.The capture of...

Independence boosts training for managers.
December 15, 2006... The Independence Group managers are to be offered more rigorous induction training toencourage them to coach their own staff more effectively and to boost profits.The group, a subsidiary of Hays Travel,currently offers two days' training for...

News.
December 15, 2006... P-p-pick up a penguin...Galapagos Islands operator Intrepid Travel is offering 50% discounts on trips sold through agents offering customers the chance to see a real life Mumbo, the lead character in the Warner Brothers' box office smash Happy...

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December 15, 2006... in briefThomas Cook flyingThomas Cook has signed a deal with flight comparison website Australiatravel-market.com. Once customers click on the Thomas Cook price they are sent to thomascook.com for accommodation and extras.Falls protest rages...

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December 15, 2006... TUI jobs 'speculation'TUI played down reports that job cuts of up to 4,000, including many in the UK, were due to be announced today following a meeting of the supervisory board in Hamburg yesterday. A spokesman for the German travel and...

News.
December 15, 2006... industry view"This is a punitive increase that will do nothing to improve the environment while putting UK aviation at a major disadvantage."Roger Wiltshire, British Air Transport Association"I hope there is a level of common sense on the part...

Spy boss slams bag hysteria.
December 15, 2006... The former head of M15 has condemned this summer's airport security measures as an "over-reaction".Speaking at the Association of Women Travel Executives Christmas lunch, Dame Stella Rimington said restrictions on hand luggage were part of a...

Out of the smoke...
December 15, 2006... Once again we see the Government cynically use the smokescreen of environmental protection as a way of raising the stealth tax of Airport Passenger Duty - doubling its rate in one swift move.And again the hard-pressed British traveller is...

News.
December 15, 2006... > For next week's question go to: www.travelweekly.co.uk TRAVEL WEEKLY'S ONLINE POLLWho will benefit most from the $2 to ?1 exchange rate?Online retailers and airlines High-street travel agencies Retailers in New York Christmas shoppers

News.
December 15, 2006... The ABTA Travel Convention is now the industry's main forum for live debate. Among the topics discussed in Marbella last month was the role of ABTA itself, and we invited David Speakman of Travel Counsellors on stage, because, although not an...