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      ABTA launches new direct debit system

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      ABTA will launch a replacement version of its Single Payment System to members later this year.
      The technology has been developed by Travel Ledger.
      The direct debit system allows fast online payments between travel agents and tour operators. 
      Transactions are consolidated by the payment scheme, so that each week only a single payment is made in or out of each member’s bank account.
      Under the new, more efficient scheme ABTA members will have control over their payments, not only who they transact with, but also by facilitating deposit and balance payments from travel agents to tour operators, and refunds from operators to agents.ADVERTISEMENTOver time, members who join the scheme will have the opportunity to process payments more frequently with the potential for more than the one cycle per week that the current scheme allows.
      After evaluating multiple systems, ABTA chose to partner with Travel Ledger because of its technology knowhow and understanding of the travel industry. 
      The new system has been tested by ABTA member focus groups over the last few months, allowing Members to review and refine the scheme and ensure it works for their requirements.
      It will use the same process as on the older platform, to avoid disruption to existing users’ back-office functions.
      John de Vial, special adviser at ABTA, said: “The new scheme will use the latest technology to allow fast, accurate and secure consolidated payments and refunds.
      “We’re confident that it will greatly support users’ businesses and make payments easier.”
      Travel Ledger is an electronic invoice and remittance system which is connected to UK and European banking for easy and secure payments between travel buyers and suppliers, providing secure transaction processing and reconciliation.
      Once live, Travel Ledger will provide user and technical support to ABTA Members, who will be able to review their own data, as well as identify potential problems with transactions in advance, before payments are authorised or transactions fail – making the system more risk-free for all parties.
      Travel Ledger founder, Roberto De Ra, added: “Having tested the Travel Ledger system successfully with a large focus group of ABTA members, we’re delighted to offer the system across the entire ABTA membership in the coming weeks and look forward to fruitful collaboration with them.”
      ABTA members in 2019 settled more than 600,000 bookings to the value of more than £900 million.

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      AITO pleads with government for further support

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      AITO has launched a highly critical attack on the UK government over what it claims are persistent failings to help the travel sector in the country.
      The trade body decried the lack of support or comprehension for the huge problems faced by 500,000 travel industry employees.
      AITO chairman, Chris Rowles, said these issues had the potential to hit to the economic recovery if they were not addressed. ADVERTISEMENTHe said: “Many families’ livelihoods are on the verge of being destroyed. 
      “AITO members, and many others in travel, are long-established small- and medium-sized businesses – which have delivered hugely over many years in terms of employment, superb customer service and significant tax take – yet which are now at severe risk of being dumped on the scrap heap of failed companies because the government has denied travel the right to trade for the second successive – and vital – peak summer holiday season.”
      The association is a 45-year-long alliance of some 200 specialist tour operators and travel agents in the UK.
      It argues three key problems exist:

      The mental strain involved of existing on zero income for 17 months without proper financial support that works for this particular sector is immense; it has been, wrongly, completely ignored by government to date.
      Unlike hairdressers, who have had up to £18,000 in government aid to kick-start their businesses, and who start to earn immediately they are permitted to trade, travel businesses do not earn anything until their customers depart on holiday, which could be a year or more later. Yet travel businesses have been awarded a paltry £2,500 in government aid – up to £15,500 less than the hairdresser next door which is overrun by customers delivering them an immediate cash flow boost, totally unlike the situation with travel companies, which are prevented from trading by government.
      Travel customers’ confidence to book has been destroyed by stealth as countries are moved from the green, amber and red lists each week.

      “Added together, it all makes for a pretty big kick in the teeth for the entire travel sector,” stated Rowles.
      He continues:  “The global travel taskforce review gives government a key opportunity to redress these key issues and, finally, to support the safe return of international travel. 
      “Now is the last opportunity to save our travel companies from collapse, and to protect other linked sectors such as inbound travel and the retail industry, alongside the huge tax take delivered by outbound travel. 
      “We will repay such support in bucket loads over decades to come – we are worth saving!”
      AITO called for more updates to the travel lists, cheaper testing and mutual recognition of vaccination certification as ways the government could help the sector.

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      Abou-Haydar takes up new role with UKinbound

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      UKinbound has confirmed the appointment of Morganne Abou-Haydar as events manager.
      A seasoned events professional, Abou-Haydar brings with her a passion for planning, creativity and communications, having spent over three years as events manager at Wedgewood DMC Group in both London and Paris.
      More recently, she worked for Actineo Consulting as events producer on the Lean Agile Global 2021 virtual conference, coordinating international speakers and assisting with all aspects of the two-day event.
      Abou-Haydar will be responsible for managing UKinbound’s diverse programme of virtual and in-person events, alongside head of events Saara Vuorela-Valladares, beginning with the association’s annual convention taking place in Manchester in September.
      Commenting on her appointment, UKinbound chief executive, Joss Croft, said: “Morganne brings with her fantastic experience in the events sector and will be a real asset to the UKinbound team and the membership. ADVERTISEMENT“I’m delighted to have her onboard.”
      Abou-Haydar began her career in Paris as a travel consultant for Voyages Menara and holds a bachelor’s degree in international tourism from Université de Cergy-Pontoise in France.
      Abou-Haydar added: “I am so thrilled to join UKinbound.
      “I am very hopeful for the future of our great industry and can’t wait to work on many exciting events with such an amazing team.”

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      TUI Group rolls over €4.7bn in bank lending

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      TUI Group has extended its existing credit lines until summer 2024 as the company seeks to insulate itself from the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
      The company said the decision gives it more time and flexibility and strengthens TUI in a market environment with continued travel restrictions.
      The objective remains a rapid repayment of the government loans as soon as more holiday destinations can be travelled to in a stable manner again and the successful relaunch of tourism continues in a sustainable manner,” explained a statement.
      As expected, the summer business, which has got off to a good start, is currently focused on a few holiday destinations such as Greece, Spain and Cyprus, domestic tourism and cruises by TUI Cruises.ADVERTISEMENTThe major hotel and club brands of the group – RIU, TUI Blue and Robinson – are also doing good business, TUI added.
      TUI has agreed with the 19 private banks and KfW to extend the maturity of the credit line totalling €4.7 billion by two years to summer 2024.
      As of July 26th, TUI had pro forma liquid funds of around €2.9 billion at its disposal (considering the announced sale of 21 properties to the Riu family an in the form of undrawn credit lines).
      TUI chief executive, Fritz Joussen, said: “TUI is returning to the growth path.
      “We are well positioned with our tour operators, hotel and cruise brands and we will be more efficient and digital after the Corona crisis.
      “We are now financed in the medium term until summer 2024.
      “This creates stability and flexibility as long as coronavirus restrictions still affect the business and markets.”

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      WTTC: UK economic recovery hindered by border closures

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      The economic revival of the UK is being hampered by the lack of inbound travel while flights to amber list countries take off, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
      The warning comes from the global tourism body, which represents the global private tourism sector.
      New data collected by travel and analytics firm and WTTC knowledge partner ForwardKeys, reveals the highest week-on-week percentage increases in tickets booked were to Germany, which were up by 113 per cent; to Croatia up by 69 per cent; Sweden by 68 per cent; Portugal by 65 per cent and Albania, up by 64 per cent.
      The data shows airline tickets booked for international trips out of the UK increased an average of 24 per cent in the week to July 13th, compared to the previous week.
      Weekly flight tickets for future travel from the UK to traditional destinations have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with Greece the most popular destination, up 211 per cent compared to 2019.ADVERTISEMENTThe Bahamas follows closely, with tickets up 161 per cent on pre-pandemic levels.
      Croatia has also reached pre-pandemic weekly ticketing levels in the last week (107 per cent) while tickets for travel to Spain, which reached 88 per cent of 2019 levels, are fast increasing.
      While this was good news for land-locked Brits, desperate to enjoy a much-need summer holiday break, the British economy which relies on international visitor spend will have been left in the doldrums by the lack of reciprocal inbound travel.
      Based on 2019 levels, the lack of inbound international visitors through July, due to concern over rising coronavirus cases and the strict quarantine rules, have robbed the UK economy of a staggering £639 million each day.
      Virginia Messina, senior vice president WTTC, said: “The economic recovery is going to continue to be hampered by the lack of inbound international visitors while UK travellers are leaving the UK in increasing numbers.
      “Whilst staycations are helping boost the economy, it is not nearly enough to replace the £639 million which is being lost every day.
      “If the situation continues, the UK will lose out on much needed revenues which international travel provides, benefitting every level of the economy far beyond the tourism sector.”

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      Abu Dhabi tourism boosts social media presence

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      The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced the launch of the first official public profile for a tourism board on leading social media platform Snapchat.
      The move gives potential travellers the chance to explore everything that the capital of the UAE has to offer in a new and immersive way. 
      Public profiles give brands the ability to have an organic presence on Snapchat, housing all their unique content in one discoverable place.
      Acting as a portal to unlock everything the region has to offer, the tool will provide subscribers with exclusive travel information for Abu Dhabi, showcasing the wide variety of things to do during a stay in the emirate.
      Public profiles were launched by Snapchat in 2020 and have had great success in bringing a brand’s story to life. ADVERTISEMENTThe innovative format will allow the destination to share its story with the next generation of travellers, tapping into a new demographic awaiting to discover the beautiful landscape, culture, entertainment and adventure that comes with a trip to Abu Dhabi.
      More Information
      Take a look at the new public profile here.

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      IATA criticises European Commission slot decision

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      The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has branded a European Commission decision to set the winter slot use threshold at 50 per cent as “out of touch with reality”.
      The trade body argued that the commission had ignored the advice and evidence presented by member states and the airline industry, which had made the case for a much lower threshold.
      The announcement means that, from November to April, airlines operating at slot-regulated airports must use at least half of every single series of slots they hold.
      There is no alleviation to hand back slots at the start of the season allowing airlines to match their schedule to realistic demand or enable other carriers to operate, IATA argued.
      Additionally, the rule on ‘force majeure’, by which the slot rule is suspended if exceptional circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic are in effect, has been switched off for intra-EU operations.ADVERTISEMENTThe result of these changes will be to restrict the ability of airlines to operate with the agility needed to respond to unpredictable and rapidly changing demand, leading to environmentally wasteful and unnecessary flights.
      “Once again the commission has shown they are out of touch with reality.
      “The airline industry is still facing the worst crisis in its history.
      “The commission had an open goal to use the slots regulation to promote a sustainable recovery for airlines, but they missed.
      “Instead, they have shown contempt for the industry, and for the many member states that repeatedly urged a more flexible solution, by stubbornly pursuing a policy that is contrary to all the evidence presented to them,” said Willie Walsh, IATA director general.
      The commission argue that the intra-EU traffic recovery this summer justified a 50 per cent use threshold with no alleviation.

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      Riviera Travel chief commercial officer to leave

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      Jim Forward, chief commercial officer with Riviera Travel, will leave the business to become chief executive of Hoburne Group.
      The latter is a holiday and property development company based in the south-west.
      Phil Hullah, Riviera chief executive, commented: “I want to pay tribute to Jim.
      “In his three years with Riviera, he has made a major contribution developing a highly-focussed and effective marketing and commercial approach.
      “He has excellent business acumen and was a fine colleague. ADVERTISEMENT“I am sure that both he and Hoburne will thrive. Personally, I wish Jim and his family well as they move their focus to the south-west.”
      With the search for a permanent replacement underway, ex-Saga Travel chief executive, Robin Shaw, has been drafted in to provide the Riviera team with additional business and commercial support.
      Forward commented: “I am sorry to be leaving Riviera.
      “Moving on to Hoburne Group will provide me with a new and different challenge, but I very much enjoyed my time at Riviera, the business has a very bright future, and I learned a great deal working with Phil and the team.”

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