Travelzest has unveiled plans to open an online store and call centre in the UK.
The group, which announced its interim results for the six months to April 30 today, said that the call centre would open in Cheltenham before the end of the current financial year.
It is also launching new marketing and distribution strategies to complete the “restructuring and integration” of its UK and North American operations.
The group reported revenue up 9% to £18.9 million in the six months, with profit before tax up 142% to £1.4 million.
It said trading in the UK operations continue to improve.
“As of 30 April 2010, merchant operations bookings for summer 2010 departures were up 14% year on year with Best of Morocco, Tapestry Collection, and Faraway Holidays providing the majority of growth,” said the interim report.
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Source : Travelmole
The Travel Industry will be closely watching Wednesday’s big game. Should England crash out of the World Cup, the industry will gain an extra £10.4 million as gutted fans rush to book a holiday.
Travel Agent, the Co-operative says that all the indicators of past football tournaments show that when the things go wrong for the England squad, its fans react by treating themselves to a break.
When England went out to Portugal on penalties in the 2006 World Cup, the Co-operative Travel says holiday bookings reached their highest levels of the year. Read more »
There has been a surge in searches for UK hotel accomadation since the ash cloud disruption reported Hotels.com
The report claims that there has been an influx of over 73% of searches in certain areas of the UK compared to the same time last year.
Glasgow was up 52%, Edinburgh 42% and Guernsey 37% year on year.
The statistics have revealed that due to the recent disruption faced by travellers, this has sparked a fresh interest in UK hotel breaks. However the survey did not reveal the base from which the increases came.
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Seabourns newest ship, Sojourn celebrated its naming ceremony last week (4th June) and was christened by British supermodel Twiggy.
The 450 passenger ship sailed to London for the inaugural ceremony which took place on the River Thames last week. The ship embarked on its maiden votage on 6th June. The ship will spend the summer operating itineraries in and around Scandinavia, Russia and the Baltic.
The newest addition to the Seabourn family boasts 225 luxury suites, 4 dining venues and 6 bars and lounges.
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Disney is one step closer to launching its latest cruise ship after the final building block for the Disney Dream was placed recently.
The ship will set sail from Port Canaveral, Florida, on January 26 2011 the Disney Dream on her maiden voyage.
The final block placed was a 260-ton portion of the ship’s bow, complete with the signature Disney Cruise Line golden filigree. Read more »
Leading Tour Operator Thomas Cook is offering customers the option to hire hand-held Playstation Portables on its flights for £7.50.
On both short and medium-haul flights, customers with the device get the choice of eight films and seven TV programmes and children’s shows plus the latest video games.
The tour operator says the switch from generic entertainment to individual handsets comes as it saw only one in ten of its customers were watching the in-flight entertainment previously provided. Read more »
Oceania Cruises has begun a multi-million dollar upgrade to its three-ship fleet.
The cruiseline says this will be “the most significant” upgrade to the ships, Regatta, Nautica and Insignia, in its history and will focus on comfort, cuisine and service. It calls the upgrade its Pillars of Distinction programme.
The cruise operator will introduce new “one of a kind” shore excursions, healthy life-style menus, new stateroom décor including chamomile-infused beds and lifestyle classes and workshops.
Nautica is already undergoing its revamp while Insignia will get the make-over in November when it is in dry dock. Regatta’s turn comes next January. Read more »
ABTA has issued a statement calling on the Government to encompass all areas of the travel industry when it looks at ash cloud compensation packages.
Airlines have already met with senior government figures to demand compensation for the debacle, which they believe was not handled well by the CAA.
But tour operators and travel agents also worked hard to shoulder the responsibility of the natural disaster that grounded so many flights this spring.
The ABTA statement said: “In a House of Commons debate on the impact of the ash clouds on aviation, Minister of State at the Department of Transport Theresa Villiers, commented that ‘the Government have not ruled out providing support for airlines’”.
“During both ash cloud events package tour operators also provided accommodation and covered day to day expenses and ABTA believes they should be included in any possible compensation package.
“ABTA
travel agents worked tirelessly to support and re-arrange travel arrangements for customers, often opening extended hours and all weekend during the crisis.”
In the statement, head of public affairs Luke Pollard added: “The industry agrees with minister Villiers’ comments that the ash clouds were an unprecedented event and many Government agencies were involved in dealing with the effects both in the UK and Europe and it is clear the relevant regulations did not work well.
“We welcome the recognition she has given to the exceptional efforts made by the industry to look after and bring customers home as well as refunding and rebooking thousands.
“However we do not accept that the travel industry should have to bear the entire costs of unprecedented and ongoing natural events which are the responsibility of Governments and their consular services.
“Any future compensation package is not only the right and proper thing to do but must also reimburse all those companies who carried the financial burden of looking after affected customers.”
Source : Travelmole
Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways, has turned down a £334,000 bonus, but his performance-related pay could rise this year if he can improve the industrial relations of the strike-hit airline.
For the third consecutive year, Mr Walsh declined to take a bonus as BA slumped to a record loss of £531 million.
Two years ago it was the botched opening of Heathrow’s Terminal 5 that led to Mr Walsh waiving a bonus worth potentially £625,000. Read more »
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