Travel Weekly (UK) articles from January 2005

Travel Weekly (UK) archives from January 2005

HOROSCOPES.
January 7, 2005... AQUARIUS (Jan 21 - Feb 19) During the week the glamorous Sun comes out, and with the new Moon in Capricorn, sweeps across your work, home and social lives. Don't let someone's attitude fence you in. Your luck: activate goals. PISCES...

It's in the bag.
January 7, 2005... Salomon heritage It's time to dig out those bell bottoms, dust off your platforms and indulge in some good old-fashioned nostalgia. Salomon's heritage collection takes you back to the heady height of the 70s, with a collection of stuff...

The best laid plans...
January 7, 2005... Beverley Fearis asked leading industry figures to reveal their new year's resolutions for 2005 It's that time of year again when we make all sorts of promises - to give up this, or to take up that. Invariably all our good intentions fall...

of the best Hawaiian breaks.
January 7, 2005... 8 Hawaii may be the holiday destination of a lifetime for some, but it can be difficult to know where to start. Only six of the 132 islands that make up the archipelago are set up for tourism, but that still means plenty of choice for...

news in brief.
January 7, 2005... transpacific launch South Pacific specialist Transpacific has launched its first-ever dedicated Hawaii programme. The 72-page brochure features 43 properties on the islands, as well as specialist product such as weddings in Las Vegas or...

24-hour party people.
January 7, 2005... When it comes to throwing a party, no-one does it quite like the Spanish. At some point throughout the year everywhere, from the smallest village to the biggest city, dedicates a couple of days to all-out celebration, involving street parties,...

Survival instincts.
January 7, 2005... Operators welcome campaign to promote bucket-and-spade holidays THE Spanish Tourist Office is positive about 2005 despite a year-on-year dip in arrivals and several operators pulling out of once popular regions such as the Costa Brava. ...

news in brief.
January 7, 2005... insight adds tours Insight Vacations has introduced two Spanish tours for 2005. The 13-day Easy Pace Spain and Portugal tour, aimed at independent travellers who like the convenience of an escorted trip, starts at [pounds sterling]925 and...

Thrill seekers.
January 7, 2005... Crystal Holidays Crystal has launched a Family brochure for the first time. This combines all the operator's best family product from its different brands into one brochure so agents do not have to search through individual programmes....

Gullivers joins giant.
January 7, 2005... TRAVEL giant Cendant has bought wholesaler Gullivers Travel for $1.1 billion. The purchase is its third in two months following the [pounds sterling]209 million purchase of European online agency Ebookers and US online agency Orbitz for...

Trade welcomes Specialist plan.
January 7, 2005... THE trade has welcomed plans by Bermuda Tourism to double the number of Bermuda Specialist agents next year. The tourist board wants to create 300 new experts to boost UK sales, which account for about 25,000 of the island's half a...

Island gets trendy.
January 7, 2005... BERMUDA'S bid to position itself as a young, hip destination will be given a boost this year with the opening of 9 Beaches, which is billing itself as the coolest hotel on the island. Set in 18 acres, 9 Beaches will appeal to...

Jetsave offers US discounts.
January 7, 2005... JETSAVE is offering savings of up to [pounds sterling]880 for a family of four to Florida on the back of the weak US dollar against the British pound. The deal, from the operator's second-edition brochure compared to prices in its first...

news in brief.
January 7, 2005... Operators consider bermuda plan Operators are considering twinning Bermuda with Miami following the decision by American Airlines to launch a year-round, non-stop Bermuda-Miami service in March. The flight will leave Miami on Wednesdays...

celebrity wat ; cech.
January 7, 2005... Catherine Zeta Jones and husband Michael Douglas have a home here. He is half Bermudan and has invested a lot of money into developing the island. During the 1960s JFK and Marilyn Monroe often visited Bermuda together, choosing to stay in...

hotel; check; Cambridge beaches; Bermuda.
January 7, 2005... Where is it? On its own 30-acre peninsula in the parish of Sandy's, about 40 minutes from Bermuda Airport and within easy reach of Hamilton and the Royal Naval Dockyard. 4444 What's it like? A total of 94 cottage-style rooms and suites...

48; hours in Bermuda.
January 7, 2005... The island's natural beauty and buzzing nightlife left Lisa James spoilt for choice THERE are a few things you need to know about Bermuda. The official currency is the Bermuda dollar, though you're more likely to see US dollars, which have...

Memorial fund for Bali bomb victim.
January 7, 2005... Industry unites to remember hotel worker A FUNDRAISING event is being held to raise [pounds sterling]100,000 for a permanent memorial to a Bali bomb victim who worked in the UK travel trade. Paul Hussey, 46, worked at London, Edinburgh...

Relax on UK break.
January 7, 2005... VISITBRITAIN is to launch a 'relax' themed campaign in March. It will produce a booklet with trade partners detailing relaxing breaks in the UK. Chief executive Tom Wright said: "People are working longer hours and need to take a...

'Protect Cala d'Hort'.
January 7, 2005... ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have warned Ibiza is in danger of becoming a concrete jungle if laws protecting its environment are scrapped. Friends of the Earth Ibiza - part of the Friends of the Earth Group - says the upmarket area of Cala...

Hebridean goes after trade sales.
January 7, 2005... HEBRIDEAN Island Cruises has launched a marketing pack for its best-selling independent agents in a bid to work more closely with the trade. The pack was launched at the Hebridean Elite second anniversary event in Dubai, where more than...

Trade off.
January 7, 2005... Why do some retail agents continue to resist change in the industry and pour scorn on those that support them and their consortia? Are leading industry figures such as Brent Hoberman really still viewed as the enemy? It appears so in...

Tourist office set to raise profile of Abu Dhabi.
January 7, 2005... ABU Dhabi could become a tourist destination in its own right by piggy-backing off the success of Dubai, according to Etihad Airways. The carrier hopes to increase its capacity from Heathrow to Abu Dhabi in the autumn. It currently...

'Target the grey market'.
January 7, 2005... THE grey and single markets are the most lucrative for agents to tap into, according to Hebridean Island Cruises sales and marketing director Pete Williams. The operator's top-selling agents were told the over-50s and older single female...

ABTA warns of scam.
January 7, 2005... TRAVEL agents are being targeted in an [pounds sterling]85-a-minute premium rate telephone scam. ABTA has warned that already at least 10 agents have been duped by the con which involves them calling back a prospective client - who calls...

Overseas visits increase by 3.4%.
January 7, 2005... The number of overseas trips taken by UK residents increased by two million to 61.4 million in 2003, according to the latest Government figures. The number of UK visitors abroad rose by 3.4% in 2003, according to the Office of National...

Sandals' service is second to none.
January 7, 2005... My husband and I have just had the best holiday at the Sandals Royal Bahamian resort. The damage caused by the hurricanes is barely visible. The greatest asset the resort has is its staff - Sandals treats them so well there is a waiting...

Getting carried away.
January 7, 2005... Following your Workplace article Party Politics (Travel Weekly December 17), I'd like to share a story about a sales manager who was caught after the office party having sex with his secretary on top of her desk. The next morning, the...

Butlins hotel gets ship shape on Shore.
January 7, 2005... AHOY there me hearties! From the end of this month agents can book rooms in Butlins' first-ever resort hotel in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, opening in August. The [pounds sterling]10 million Shoreline Hotel has been modelled on an ocean...

Airline doesn't Excel.
January 7, 2005... I recently had cause to complain about delays when I travelled with Excel Airways from Gatwick. I got a standard reply back, but it didn't deal with the real issues. First, there was the sheer inconvenience of having to wear the same...

Going for a duck.
January 7, 2005... KEITH Prowse Attraction Tickets has launched four new Walt Disney Resort Florida tickets. They are: a five-day Premium Ticket for [pounds sterling]166 per adult and [pounds sterling]143 for children aged three to nine; a seven-day Premium...

Evans above.
January 7, 2005... This week: Paul Evans, chief executive, Lowcostbeds.com I AM assuming that Paul Evans vets the hoteliers who supply his new business, Lowcostbeds.com, with the same rigour as he does the journalists who interview him. We haven't...

Online launch.
January 7, 2005... ICKENHAM Travel is set to launch an online leisure agency this month following the sale of its leisure shops to Travelcare. Travelcare bought four Middlesex-based Ickenham Travel leisure agencies in November for an undisclosed sum with all...

Online sales hit by fear of fraud.
January 7, 2005... FEAR of web-based credit and debit card fraud is stopping customers from making travel bookings online, the trade has been warned. A survey undertaken by fraud prevention and payment processing solutions provider ClearCommerce Europe showed...

l in brief.
January 7, 2005... Freedom in retail deal Freedom Flights has signed a distribution agreement with Thomas Cook's shops. Freedom previously worked with various divisions of Thomas Cook but this is its first agreement with the retail chain. Taber expands...

Female pilots are ready for take-off.
January 7, 2005... EVERYadrenaline-junkie with a Top Gun-inspired fantasy probably once contemplated becoming a pilot. Dressed in bomber jacket and aviation-style sunglasses, the image of the airline captain must be one of the industry's most dashing. ...

TSSA targets independents.
January 7, 2005... THE Transport Salaried Staffs' Association is to target its Travel Trade Charter at independent agencies following a disappointing response from larger employers. Culture, media and sport secretary Tessa Jowell launched the travel trade...

Worldchoice launch.
January 7, 2005... WORLDCHOICE is set to launch an online dynamic packaging facility for its members. Vice-chairman Keith Wilson said the system, currently in the testing phase, will be fully bonded and launched this month. Wilson said the consortium was...

IAC splits business to tackle rival.
January 7, 2005... InterActive Corporation has split its business into two to increase its share of the online travel market and fight off rival Cendant. IAC is the biggest online travel company in the world with its Expedia brand at the forefront of its...

'Power brand' gathers pace.
January 7, 2005... TUI UK has scrapped its Crystal Cities brand and is reviewing the future of its Crystal France, Italy and Active programmes. Head of sales and marketing Miles Morgan said Crystal Cities product would be sold through Thomson Cities and Short...

GDS costs set to increase.
January 7, 2005... BUSINESS travel agents face rising global distribution system costs once the European Commission deregulates the industry next year. The message, from Guild of Business Travel Agentstechnology working party chairman Adam White, follows the...

We did Aspire.
January 7, 2005... I enjoyed your 'that was the year that was' piece (Travel Weekly December 17 2004). However, March seems to have been a mistake. First Choice was a supporter of the Aspire conference, sending a large number of staff, and I participated in one...

Monarch in web triumph.
January 7, 2005... MONARCH Scheduled saw a 450% hike in bookings through its website last year and is confident that half of its total sales will be made online this summer. Managing director Tim Jeans said agents had switched 50,000 bookings previously made...

On your marks...
January 7, 2005... Settled back in your desk yet? Joined that gym? Consolidated those Christmas credit card bills? Good. Because unlike many industries, where the new year takes a while to get underway, the travel industry has a nasty habit of slipping into...

Carriers reveal plans for 2005.
January 7, 2005... AIRLINES are kicking off the new year with a focus on expanding regional hubs and investing in business class. The start of 2005 also sees a raft of route launches, increased fleets and improved on-board product. Virgin Atlantic has...

l in brief.
January 7, 2005... New MD for cruiseline Royal Caribbean has revealed Avis Europe fleet and operations director for France Robin Shaw as its new managing director. He replaces Patrick Ryan who has moved to Island Cruises. Former Disney boss Jo Rzymowska also...

In the money for Christmas.
January 7, 2005... Senior sales consultant Dharam Patel, of Best At Travel in London, enjoyed the best Christmas present in the trade - a [pounds sterling]10,000 shopping spree. Travel Weekly teamed up with Emirates to offer one lucky reader and a friend a...

'Dial-a-rep' to debut in Med resorts.
January 7, 2005... AN independent telephone rep service across the Mediterranean has been launched to support dynamically packaged holidays sold through the trade. The move comes as an increasing number of agents abandon conventional packages in favour of...

Hotel Direct starts poster campaign.
January 7, 2005... ONLINE hotel travel agency Hotel Direct will run its first poster campaign in an attempt to boost brand awareness. As part of its [pounds sterling]2 million advertising spend this year, a 48-sheet poster campaign was launched across London...

Thank you super Ted.
January 7, 2005... Another example of Kirker's loyalty to its agency colleagues:a booking from a local client was made direct, starting with a visit to our shop. A Kirker brochure was handed over and good advice given. The happy outcome is a commission cheque...

Danger of going it alone.
January 7, 2005... As a travel agent with several clients spending Christmas in the Far East, I must congratulate the operators across the UK who have done their utmost to keep those of us worried about our clients fully informed of their situation. People...

We can all lend a hand.
January 7, 2005... Last week I felt very uncomfortable. After the tsunami tragedy that destroyed hope and broke up families, I was asked to find a quiet resort for a client who had - until the waves destroyed the futures of so many people - spent some time in the...

Please give after tragedy.
January 7, 2005... Words are not enough to express our feelings for the many poor people of Asia who have lost everything in the recent tsunami disaster. These are the same people who help our clients to enjoy themselves during holidays in their countries and...

Ireland in tourism research.
January 7, 2005... TOURISM Ireland is to determine its marketing plans for the year ahead with a major research study of British holidaymakers. The research will ask tourists on their view of Ireland as a holiday destination with the results shaping the...

Summertime sales hike.
January 7, 2005... LASTsummer brought some of the best summer holiday sales figures in three years and hundreds of industry newcomers, according to the Civil Aviation Authority's latest report. First Choice is the only operator among the big four projecting...

'If the boat hadn't been late, there is no doubt we'd have been dead'.
January 7, 2005... We decided to go on a boat trip on Boxing Day to Raya to get away from hectic Patong Beach. The trip was running 15 minutes behind schedule, which turned out to be a godsend.If it had been on time, we would have been landing when the...

Time to donate spare currency.
January 7, 2005... I have just returned from Thailand, where I was staying at Patong Beach, and was extremely fortunate to escape any physical injury in the tsunami of December 26. The devastation I witnessed makes me want to help as much as possible in the...

l in brief.
January 7, 2005... Smith shuts up shop Ex-Advantage president Roger Smith has wound up his travel agency EST Travel in Little Chalfont, Amersham, to concentrate on his role as consortium insurance services director. ABTA is dealing with five forward...

'They had someone missing and that person is still missing'.
January 7, 2005... MANCHESTER-based Travel By Design managing partner Kristina Hulme was getting ready for a family event on Boxing Day when she saw the devastating images of the tsunami unfold on television. She rushed to her offices in Alderley Edge to...

Explore staff send aid to Maldives.
January 7, 2005... THISpile of aid is on its way to the Maldives thanks to the efforts of staff at Explore Worldwide. The supplies - which include clothes, bed linen, towels, soap, toothpaste and shoes - were collected by the operator after a call for help...

Disaster recovery.
January 7, 2005... Travel industry swings into action to help victims of tsunami UK travel companies have moved swiftly to help victims of the devastating Southeast Asian tsunami. In an overwhelming show of support, all sectors of the industry have...

'Eight members of staff flew out to help those who were exhausted by the situation'.
January 7, 2005... FIRST Choice UKand overseas operations director Steve Barker was in the office within 40 minutes of hearing about the tsunami. As duty manager charged with implementing contingency plans, which had been tried and tested following the...

'I have never had so many customers flowing into the shop and being so understanding'.
January 7, 2005... WHEN Thomson's Newcastle town manager Paul Johnstone arrived at work the day after the Boxing Day disaster, he knew it was going to be busy. The Northumberland Street travel agency branch is not only Newcastle's flagship store, but was the...

Operators confirm victims.
January 7, 2005... SIX package holidaymakers have been confirmed dead by operators, with a further four still missing, after last week's Asian tsunami. Of the fatalities, three were travelling with MyTravel, two with Kuoni and one with First Choice. Two of...

Water saves lives as well.
January 7, 2005... When the hurricane season brought chaos to the Caribbean and Florida late last year, this column used the opportunity to reiterate the benefits of booking with a fully bonded tour operator. While do-it-yourself holidaymakers were forced to...

'This is definitely the largest operation we have set up'.
January 7, 2005... MORE than 3,500 Brits have passed through Gatwick's special reception centre since repatriation of UK travellers from tsunami-affected areas began on December 27. Gatwick general manager airside operations Tim Hardy said the multi-agency...

'Kuoni staff greeted passengers'.
January 7, 2005... Kuoni and Monarch organised charter flights to SriLanka and the Maldives in the aftermath of the tsunami. Outgoing flights took aid, organised by the Red Cross, while Kuoni staff were on hand to greet returning passengers. Meanwhile,...

Tsunami: what you need to know.
January 7, 2005... Thailand General situation: the west coast of Phuket Island is expected to take a month to return to normal, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. "Heavy losses sustained" on Kamala Beach and Patong Beach; most resorts destroyed...

'Price Watch' under fire.
January 7, 2005... Thomas Cook refutes claims its new campaign promise is a gimmick THOMAS Cook has denied its new Price Watch campaign is an aggressive attempt to undercut the market. Managing director of sales Steve Finlan claimed from the end of this...

Travelsavers severs agreement with ITAA.
January 7, 2005... TRAVELSAVERS has pulled out of the Independent Travel Agents Alliance. The 50-strong marketing group joined the organisation in 2003 alongside Worldchoice, Travel Trust Association and Midconsort. But Travelsavers managing director Dominic...

Industry profile boost.
January 7, 2005... THE three travel giants that have gone head to head with television advertising this January have welcomed the competition. Thomson, Thomas Cook and First Choice have all kicked off the new year with high profile TV ads - the first time in...

Magazine puts children First.
January 7, 2005... KIDS will be kept quiet at First Choice shops during the peak booking season thanks to a new magazine aimed at four to 11-year-olds. The 16-page booklet called first4kids features puzzles and games, as well as I'm a Celebrity... characters...

Stewart quits carrier.
January 7, 2005... AIR Jamaica is back in the hands of the Jamaican government carrying debts of $560 million. Sandals boss Butch Stewart has handed control of the carrier back to the state after enduring 10 years of losses. He bought his 75% stake in 1994...

'Stand by stricken nations'.
January 7, 2005... AGENTS are being urged not to write off countries stricken by the Boxing Day tsunami for the rest of the year. Co-operative Travel Trading Group chief operating officer Mike Greenacre said all 600 Co-op Travel and Travelcare stores will be...

Industry figures honoured.
January 7, 2005... BATH Travel chairman Peter Bath has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List for services to business and charity. Bath has been with the company since 1948, running Palmair and its agency, which now boasts 65 branches across the...

Lastminute loses bosses.
January 7, 2005... LASTMINUTE.COMhas been rocked by the departure of three senior executives. The online giant has confirmed managing director of lastminute.com4business Andrew Windsor left the company at the end of December. Meanwhile, group commercial...

The first impression.
January 14, 2005... You've got 30 seconds for your CV to work. Neal Baldwin tells you how YEP, that's right. Research says the average employer spends just half a minute deciding if you are worthy of an interview. So if you're new year's resolution is to...

Trust company.
January 14, 2005... The Travel Trust Association recently held its annual conference at the Hilton Metropole Hotel, London last month. The event was attended by 200 members and business partners The fab four are, from left, Lee Boolaky, Global Adventures;...

Diary Dates.
January 14, 2005... January 25 Guild of Travel Management Companies Annual General Meeting, London. Tel: 01625 430472. 26-30 FITUR, Madrid. E-mail: panorama@infonetmg.com. FEBruary 1-2 Travel Technology Show, Olympia, London. Tel: 020-7970 6553....

No such thing as a free lunch?
January 14, 2005... THE Cayman Islands Department of Tourism is launching a massive tactical campaign to boost summer bookings to the islands, following the hurricanes that wrecked parts of the destination last year. The initiative, called Cayman Compliments,...

Teaming up for UK push.
January 14, 2005... SEVERAL small hotels in the Caribbean have grouped to collectively market themselves to UK tour operators. Called Beyond the Beaches, the group has obtained 50,000 euros in funding from the European Union to appoint AMG, a UK sales and...

Jamaica ready for World stage.
January 14, 2005... THE Jamaica Tourist Board has said the island will have 5,000 new hotel rooms in the next couple of years to meet anticipated visitor numbers for the Cricket World Cup. Director of tourism Paul Pennicook said: "We will hold the opening...

news in brief.
January 14, 2005... CTO relaunches Travelfax reference tool The Caribbean Tourism Organisation has relaunched its TravelFax information pack in a more user-friendly format. After consultation with the trade, the new Caribbean TravelFax has been redesigned in a...

Home comforts on the high seas.
January 14, 2005... Braemar offers a very British cruise in the Caribbean WITHIN 24 hours of boarding Fred Olsen's Braemar in Barbados I discovered I was a unique passenger - someone who was not a regular on the ship. All the passengers on Braemar were...