p2 nov21 19/11/08 22:12 Page 2
Protection is broke
and does need fixing.
news
So let’s agree how
LISTENING to the assessment of the state of financial
protection and the UK economy at World Travel
Market last week wasn’t easy.
One delegate at an AAC event summed up the
feeling at the end of the session when he said: “So
what’s the good news?”
As a national newspaper recently pointed out,
anyone predicting looming disaster is on easy street.
this week
It’s much braver to predict things will work. So,
ever the optimist, here goes.
This week’s meeting with the CAA will result in
the clearest, simplest and most unifying view on
consumer protection the trade has ever produced.
The big two, Aito, the FTO, Abta and even the CAA
will then go into bat for the trade.
Government will realise the folly of a scheme that
will increase costs only for compliant travel firms,
widening the inequity with those outside of Atol.
It will also forgive an industry that has allowed
ways of selling to flourish that are at odds with All hands on deck at WTM
the spirit if not the letter of European rules on A Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp-style) look-a-like sailed into World Travel
consumer protection. Market last week to drum up interest in the Caribbean. WTM reports, p9-13
Finally, an equitable, cheap and universal scheme
to protect all consumers is agreed. Atol summit. Conference.
It sounds good. And, however unlikely, it is what Aito to join Hoon meeting p5 Etoa rewrites VAT rules p14
many of the “great and the good” of the industry due Aito has joined Thomas Cook and Etoa has revealed proposals
to meet this week were hoping for. Tui in arranging a meeting with for an overhaul of the EU Toms
So, what can possibly go wrong? transport secretary Geoff Hoon rules on VAT that could see
Well, leaving blind optimism to one side, there’s about consumer protection business-to-business suppliers,
no sign the trade can match the lobbying power of such as bed banks, allowed to
British Airways, particularly if its chiefs do not attend Restructure. operate outside of the scheme
key meetings with ministers. Hays revamps structure p6
Apparently, the government only has to mutter Hays Travel has undergone its City & finance.
about something to do with the airline industry and most radical restructuring in its Tui Group profits fall p18
Willie Walsh or Martin Broughton appear. 28-year history creating specialist Tui Group reported hefty
But first the industry needs an agreed policy. I’m divisions to boost conversions nine-month losses but said it
sure the 29 people who gathered remained optimistic about the
yesterday in London can agree Recovery. prospects for 2009, despite
what’s wrong. But can they Agents play vital role p9 suspending acquisition activity
agree on a solution? Advances in technology have been
The XL collapse offers an op- tipped to drive recovery in the Cruise.
portunity for change. But if industry after the recession, but Southampton launch p25
it leaves customers who good high street agents are also Celebrity Cruises is confident of
assumed they were pro- expected to play a part in the revival the demand in the UK market
tected out of pocket, for its Solstice-class Celebrity
the government Attraction. Eclipse in 2010
might say ‘sort your Trade to meet Rowling p10
own mess out’. Members of the UK travel trade SECTORS.
will get the chance to meet Harry Cruise p24
Lee Hayhurst
Potter author JK Rowling when Operators p28
News Editor
she opens a new attraction, based Hotels & resorts p30
on the tales of the young wizard, Air p32
at Universal Studios in Florida Business travel p36
02 21.11.2008
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