PICTURE: REX FEATURES
NEWS
WEEK AT A GLANCE
ITT chairman slams
challenge to position
Institute of Travel and Tourism
(ITT) chairman Steven
Freudmann has branded
news of a challenge to his
position as a “storm in a tea
cup”, based on politics rather
than policy issues. The new
chairman will be decided at
the Annual General Meeting
on August 4, when members
will be asked to nominate
and second a chairman.
Board member Lawrence
Assock said he would stand
if there was no other interest.
Freudmann has held the
position unopposed for seven
years. He said he
found news of a potential
challenge “bizarre”.
Steven Freudmann
AITO to talk about
unfair treatment
The Association of
Independent Tour Operators
(AITO) has secured a meeting
with the Department for
Business Innovation and
Skills to discuss banks’
unfair treatment of travel
companies. Director of
cross-market interventions
Ben Coates has set up the
meeting for this month, which
will be attended by AITO
membership manager Peter
Burgess and AITO board
member Noel Josephides.
Representatives from the
Civil Aviation Authority and
the Department for Transport
have also been invited.
Azura to sail early
to earn P&O money
P&O Cruises is to shorten the
inaugural celebrations for
new ship Azura so it can earn
money as quickly as possible.
P&O Cruises managing
director Nigel Esdale said
the ship would spend fewer
days in Southampton when
agents and consumers can
visit next April. “We need to
get it operating,” he said. The
cruiseline will take delivery
of the ship on March 31 2010
with the 16-night maiden
4 | Travel Weekly | July 3 2009
News stories on www.travelweekly.co.uk
voyage of the Mediterranean
from Southampton departing
on April 12.
APD increase prices
millions out of fl ying
Increases in Air Passenger
Duty (APD) this November
will price 1.5 million people
out of fl ying, according to
aviation campaign group
Flying Matters chairman
and former Labour minister
Brian Wilson. APD is due to
rise from £40 to £45 to the
US, and £50 to the Caribbean
when the government
introduces four rate bands in
November, then £60 to the
US, and £75 to the Caribbean
from November 2010.
Tourism Australia
looks to 2010 Ashes
Tourism Australia is to launch
a marketing drive to promote
the Ashes in 2010/11 in
conjunction with the start
of the Ashes in the UK on July
8. Tourism Australia regional
general manager UK/Europe
Rodney Harrex said the last
Ashes, held in Australia in
2006/07, saw 35,000 UK fans
travel to the country. Harrex
said: “Agents remain a key
channel for us and we will
use our Aussie Specialist
Programme to educate agents
on selling the destination
so they are equipped to deal
with the increased consumer
interest about Australia ahead
of the 2010/11 Ashes series.”
Australia hosts Ashes in 2010
Peter Deilmann sails
out of river cruises
Peter Deilmann’s UK offi ce will
continue to operate as usual
until the end of the European
river cruise season in October,
after the river cruise division
went into administration last
week. UK managing director
Stuart Perl said Peter Deilmann
would concentrate on selling
its one ocean-going ship
Deutschland. He said poor
bookings from the US and
Germany had sealed the fate
of the river cruise operation.
Peter Deilmann: bookings hit
Northern Ball names
industry supporters
Travel Weekly’s Northern
Ball, in partnership with
Travel2, is to be supported
by Manchester Airport,
Aff ordable Car Hire,
Shearings Holidays, Travel
Trade Recruitment and Elite
Islands Resorts. For further
information, visit www.
northernball.co.uk, or
contact events co-ordinator
Angela Hamilton-Jones on
020 8652 3803. Preparation
is also underway for Travel
Weekly’s Globe Travel Awards
2010. Tickets are being
off ered at 2009 prices, but be
quick as this is a limited off er.
❯ Visit www.globetravel
awards.co.uk
Crystal, First Choice,
Thomson cut chalets
TUI Travel has cut 40% of
its chalet off erings from its
three core ski brands. Crystal
managing director Mathew
Prior said the reduction in
the number of chalets, which
can be more expensive
than hotels or self-catering
accommodation, were in
the Crystal, First Choice and
Thomson ski programmes.
He expects the reduction
to be temporary in light of
the economic climate. “The
40% capacity cut is not
industry wide. Chalets have
a lot of fi xed costs. You can
renegotiate the lease costs,
but you still have to pay for
staff and food and wine.
PICTURE
OF THE
WEEK
Ethiopia
Congratulations to MoMad, who won
this month’s photo competition on
the travelhub, Travel Weekly’s online
networking site. MoMad took this
engaging photo on a recent fam trip to
QUOTE
OF THE
WEEK
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