News items August

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07-08-2009 | Brits favour premium long haul over mini-breaks
Holidaymakers are still favouring a single, premium long-haul holiday and turning their backs on European mini breaks, according the American Express (Amex) Global Foreign Exchange Service Currency Index. Its new annual report on currency trends says UK demand for exotic destinations such as Thailand and Barbados has increased year on year, while there has been a big decline in demand for currencies linked to European mini-break destinations such as Prague (Czech koruna) and Krakow (Polish zloty). Amex global foreign exchange services director of trading and business development Terry Perrin, said: "The uplift in currencies for long-haul destinations and the demise of the 'mini-break' currencies suggest that, while many Brits are opting for more premium holiday destinations, they are in fact reining in their overall annual spend, and foregoing mini-breaks in order to 'push the boat out' for their main annual holiday." The report also reveals that Mexican, Jamaican and Kenyan currencies are proving popular. Perrin added: "Despite the outbreak of swine flu, we have still seen a considerable increase in demand for the Mexican peso." Reflecting the trend for travel outside the eurozone, the Turkish lira is now the most popular short-haul currency following the euro and dollar. Michelle Perrett More…
06-08-2009 | Some Vacation World shops may relocate due to high rents
Some of the former Harvey World Travel shops rebranded Vacation World may have to relocate locally because landlords are holding out for "yesteryear rents". New, lower rents have been agreed for most of the 25 branches, according to consultant and former Lets Go Travel boss Simon Maunder, who is heading up Vacation World for an interim period. But some landlords are refusing to budge on price, and may force some stores to move premises, he admitted. Maunder raised the problem of escalating rents in May, when the shops were still operating under the Harvey World Travel brand. "A handful are sticking out for yesteryear rents, and we may have to reposition these branches. If we are going to refurbish them anyway, then sometimes it's easier to go to a new site," he said. All Vacation World branches - bought when Harvey World Travel went into administration in June - have now been rebranded, and there is a rolling programme to refurbish the shops' interiors, while technology has also been updated. Vacation World is run separately to sister company Vacation Travel. Owner Stuart Arnott bought the Harvey World Travel shops from Stella Travel Services UK in April. The chain also hit all of its targets last month, said Maunder, an achievement that was not expected until the end of the year. He attributed this in part to strong relationships between staff and local customers. Maunder said: "Vacation World is trading profitably, but some branches are carrying others. The personal relationships between staff and customers are stronger than we anticipated. Some customers have been clients for 20 years, and they don't care [about the changes] as long as the same person serves them." A TV advertising campaign is planned in the West Country to promote the new brand, while smaller advertising campaigns are being rolled out in the north of England to promote Vacation World branches. Meanwhile, Maunder said morale among staff, of which there are just under 100, was strong. "The feedback I've had from staff is that they feel more empowered now this is a more locally run business, because there was some corporate inertia previously." Juliet Dennis More…
06-08-2009 | Agents ride out tough lates market by focusing on 2010
Agents and operators are surviving a difficult lates market thanks to early bookings for next year and little discounting. The trade had been keeping its fingers crossed that a surge in late bookings would make a vital difference for many businesses that have suffered this year due to the recession. The Met Office's retraction of its "barbecue summer" forecast has failed to kick-start sales for many businesses, and there are concerns travel agency failures are set to surge in the autumn. Bawtry Travel Worldchoice proprietor Katherine Doyle said the agency's year-on-year revenues were flat this month, adding: "We haven't had the mad rush we thought we might have got for lates. "I've been booking breaks for June, July and October next year. People committed to the UK this year because of the forecast, but now, thanks to the false promise of a barbecue summer, next year we will see them come flocking back." Bailey's Travel managing director Chris Bailey agreed the lates market had failed to materialise, leaving the agency around 12% down in revenues for July compared with the previous year. He said staff were no longer wasting time looking for bargain-basement late deals for this summer, adding: "We're booking cruise and long haul for next year." Meanwhile, Stowaway Travel director Paul Stowe said his agency was on a par with last year's revenues, with the situation being helped by a lack of mass discounting in the current lates market by operators. He said: "There is some discounting out there. It is the small operators who have got stock left [who are] discounting as opposed to the bigger guys who are holding out [on price]." Platon Loizou, managing director of Turkey specialist Jewel in the Crown, said his company had been hit hard after being forced to discount, adding: "Business is coming in, although the price [of a holiday] is about £40 lower than last year. "It is impossible to make the margins we were making last year; it is horrible." Cosmos aviation director Michael Vinales admitted discounting was being used to drive the operator's slower Greek and long-haul package markets, although he added this tactic was strategic, with plans to revert to normal prices once the market picks up. He added: "The market has picked up. We have seen an increase in business since the weather forecasters said it was going to be a wet summer." However, Premier Holidays head of sales and marketing Debbie Goffin said the operator had avoided discounting after seeing year-on-year growth since Easter. She added: "The prices are good because the airlines and hotels have been discounting. There's never been a better time to take long haul." Edward Robertson More…
05-08-2009 | Two Gold Medal passengers injured in Bangkok Airways crash
Two Gold Medal passengers were injured in the Bangkok Airways flight which crashed in Thailand yesterday morning. The domestic flight PG 266 from Krabi to Koh Samui skidded into a former control tower at around 2pm local time (8am GMT). The captain was killed in the accident while four people have serious injuries and two minor injuries. The flight carried 68 passengers, two pilots and two flight attendants. A spokesman for Gold Medal said: "Gold Medal can confirm that it had two passengers on the board the bangkok Airways flights PG266 which skidded off the runway at Koh Samui airport this morning. Both have been transferred to local hospitals where we have made contact with them and whilst they have sustained some injuries we understand they will make a full recovery. Our local representative has visited them and we will be offering all the help and support possible during this time." The other passengers and two crew members were not injured. Bangkok Airways has set up a hotline for concerned family members and friends of anyone who may have been a passenger: +66 2265 8777. More…
03-08-2009 | Thomas Cook launches first premium package holiday collection
Thomas Cook is to launch the Style Collection, a series of brochures dedicated to high-end holidays, to boost its presence in the luxury market. Thomas Cook Ultimate Style, Thomas Cook Holidays with Style and Thomas Cook Villas with Style replace the operator's Select, Finesse, Beach and Active Resorts sub brands and the Style Villas main brand. Thomas Cook tour operations director Richard Calvert said: "Thomas Cook has been under-represented in this area so it is a focus for growth for us. "These holidays are about getting a balance between luxury and sensible pricing. We have always had a large collection of four- and five-star properties but now they are easier for agents and customers to find." Holidays With Style offers Thomas Cook's best collection of four- and five-star properties, while Ultimate Style features the operator's top 100 five-star hotels to destinations worldwide. Replacing the Style Villas range, Villas with Style is a slimmed-down selection of properties in 16 destinations. Sub brands in this portfolio are Distinct Style and Elegant Style. The three brochures will be available from July 30. Chloe Berman More…
03-08-2009 | Celebrity Eclipse will offer British food and drink on Southampton sailings
Food and drink on Celebrity Eclipse's sailings from Southampton next year will be changed to appeal more to British tastes. Speaking at the launch of Celebrity Equinox last week, Celebrity Cruises president and chief executive officer Dan Hanrahan said Eclipse will be offering the Brits' favourite beers and lagers, and the cruiseline will be adding dishes such as "mushy peas and steak and kidney pie". He said: "I'm told that's what the British like to eat. We're not planning to make big changes on board for the British market, but we are looking at tweaking some of the food offerings." Hanrahan said Eclipse will feature decor changes, but scotched rumours that it will not have the trademark half-acre lawn that features on sister ships Celebrity Equinox and Celebrity Solstice. He said: "The lawn stays. It's done a fantastic job for us, but we are learning to use it more. On Solstice, we are putting down blankets and doing picnics on the lawn, which has helped to create more outside seating and mitigate complaints there were not enough sunbeds." Celebrity Eclipse will be the line's third new 2,850-passenger Solstice-class ship, with another two as yet unnamed sister ships due out in 2011 and 2012. Hanrahan said: "I would have preferred to introduce these ships in good times, but there is no question of cutting back. In fact, we want these ships as soon as possible so we can continue to expand our itineraries and go where the demand is." He said next year's cruises from Southampton, which are the first Celebrity has ever offered aimed at the UK market, were in response to demand. He confirmed Eclipse will be back in 2011 for a second season. He said: "We are filling our ships quite well. I don't like the prices we're getting, which are painful for us and agents, but great for the passengers, but we build ships for 30 years. We take the long view, and are continuing to invest." Celebrity stats 5: the number of Solstice-class ships ordered. 2,850: the capacity of a Solstice-class ship. 2010: the date Celebrity Cruises launches its first cruises from Southampton. 5,000: the number of agents hosted to events on Celebrity Equinox last week. Jane Archer More…