p2 nov14 12/11/08 21:28 Page 2
Time to unite ahead
of renewed lobby
news
efforts over Atol
AT LONG last the travel industry is poised to have
its voice heard where it matters: at the heart of
government.
It’s a shame it took the collapse of XL Leisure
Group, the UK’s third-largest operator, to prompt
renewed attempts to sort out the current consumer
protection mess.
But if a shock as big as that didn’t elicit a response,
this week
what would?
The question remains, can Thomas Cook and Tui
Travel match the lobbying power of British Airways
when they meet new transport minister Geoff Hoon
next month.
If they can’t then we should abandon once and for
all the hope that the government will see sense and
bring in a fair and universal system of protection.
Reality TV stars name Ruby Princess
However, if that happens the trade must beware.
The last thing we need are the many trade US reality TV stars Trista and Ryan Sutter, godparents of Ruby Princess, smash
bodies and organisations going off in their various the ceremonial bottle of champagne watched by Carnival Corporation chief
directions offering competing protection schemes. executive Micky Arison (left) as Princess Cruises’ new ship was named in Fort
There are different views of course, but this is one Lauderdale this week. Full report from the naming in next week’s TTG.
issue around which the industry must unite.
We should not let it divide us. Protection. TV for flights to Turkey. The
Industry unites to lobby p4 watchdog upheld the complaint
WTM: They came, they saw, they were delayed Travel industry bosses will meet to
Another year, another World Travel Market, and yet agree the industry’s stance on Atol Future Travel.
another example of how appalling public transport protection ahead of a meeting Conference report p9
in our capital can be. between the big two and new Future Travel homeworkers at
I say this not just because I was delayed on my transport secretary Geoff Hoon their Manchester conference were
way to ExCeL on Monday morning, then late for an later this month given a first sight of new bookable
event Monday night, but because of how this deba- websites that will channel
cle reflected on the UK. Kiss Flights. commission to them individually
Tens of thousands of travel industry profes- Jim Wyatt at Meridian p5
sionals from around the world who came to The brother of Phil Wyatt has Capacity.
London - the 2012 Olympic city – must be denied the former XL boss is Hotel rates cut plea p10
wondering how on earth we’ll cope. involved in new start-up Kiss Thomas Cook boss Manny
The irony is many of those people who Flights. Jim Wyatt became a Fontenla-Novoa has called for
were trapped for hours on station platforms director of Kiss parent company hotels to lower their rates ahead
waiting for trains would have heard at Meridian Aviation two weeks ago of the peak booking period to stim-
WTM promises that London will be ulate demand
easy to get around in 2012. Takeover.
Having the Olympics here may Travelzest bid retracted p4 New player.
not be the boon to the travel Talks on a proposed takeover Aldi breaks into travel p11
industry some are suggesting of Travelzest by a bidder, widely Budget supermarket Aldi has
but, if nothing else, it promotes believed to be Tui Travel, are said teamed up with On Holiday Group
the virtues of international travel. to have collapsed due to the crisis and Eurotours International
WTM was London’s chance to in the financial markets
showcase itself to the world it’s SECTORS.
criminal it was wasted. ASA ruling. Cruise p22
Jet2 blames rivals for rap p5 Operators p24
Jet2.com claimed rival carriers Hotels & resorts p26
Lucy Huxley Editor were probably behind a complaint Air p28
to the ASA about adverts it ran on Business travel p30
02 14.11.2008
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