Organisations & Operators,

Hays Travel has begun consultation on as many as 878 job losses as the tourism sector continues to battle the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company, which took on 2,000 former Thomas Cook employees when it went bust in October last year, currently had around 4,500 employees.
However, cuts are now likely following a government decision to reimpose quarantine procedures for travellers returning from Spain.
Owners John and Irene Hays said the restrictions meant hundreds of thousands of holidays had been cancelled.

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They were “devastated” staff would lose jobs “through no fault of their own,” the couple said.
In a joint statement, the Hays said they had “made every possible effort” to protect the jobs of all the staff, “including those who were employed when Hays Travel took on the Thomas Cook shops last October”.
The Sunderland-based company said it was now consulting with 344 staff training as travel consultants and the 534 who work in the foreign exchange division.
The firm said its experienced travel sales staff, apprentices and other head office staff were not affected by the cuts.
Hays Travel said it had a two-year turnaround plan in place, and that although 2020 “looked really bad,” bookings for 2021 were already up on the same period in 2019.
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TUI has announced it will close 166 stores across the UK and Ireland. In what will be seen as a major blow to the tourism industry, the travel giant said it had “accelerated” the closures as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. More

Michael Wale has been named chief executive of the Abercrombie & Kent Group.
Appointed by co-chairman Geoffrey Kent and Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, he will take up the role at the start of October.
Wale joins the luxury travel company from Kerzner International, the owner of Atlantis and One & Only Resorts, where he was chief executive until earlier this month.
Before joining Kerzner, his career spanned almost 40 years with Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, culminating as president for Europe, Africa & Middle East, directly overseeing the operations of 250 hotels and resorts, for its ten brands, in 60 countries.
Wale replaces Amerigo Perasso, who has held the role of chief executive with the company for a little under a year.
“With Michael, Abercrombie & Kent will start an exciting new chapter,” explained Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio.
“When guests book a holiday with us, they know we will guide them to amazing places, but the destination is a given. 

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“What they expect from us – and what keeps them coming back – is how we go the extra mile.
“Michael’s extensive experience in guest services and operations will take what A&K is known for to the next level.”
Wale is currently based in Dubai and will be relocating to Monaco. 
He will continue his association with Kerzner International as he joins the board of the company.
“I am thrilled to be joining the team at Abercrombie & Kent at this pivotal time in the company’s history,” said Wale. 
“I have travelled with A&K before and understand its distinctive approach to luxury experiential travel.
“I also look forward to working with Geoffrey and Manfredi, two titans of the travel industry, to build a bright future for our guests, partners and staff.”
Abercrombie & Kent is a luxury and adventure travel company.
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TUI has cancelled all British holidays to mainland Spain until August 9th in response to government decision to reintroduce quarantine procedures.
However, the firm said all those going to the Balearic and Canary Islands could still travel as planned from Monday – as both are excluded from the new rules.
The airline industry has reacted with dismay to the decision, which was unexpectedly announced over the weekend.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is advising against all but essential travel to mainland Spain.
Quarantine measures apply to those returning from mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, such as Majorca and Ibiza.
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TUI UK has introduced a new, free holiday amends policy to provide added flexibility to customers.
The new policy allows holidaymakers to make one fee-free change to their booking – including the hotel and destination – regardless of whether they are affected by Covid-19.
This applies to new bookings made between today and September 30th, for travel between August 20th this year and the end of April next year.
The offer applies to trips using TUI Airways flights for TUI, First Choice and Marella Cruise holidays.

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The booking amendment must be made at least 28 days before departure.
Richard Sofer, commercial director, TUI UK & Ireland, said: “We are in extraordinary times with circumstances that are constantly evolving, and we know we need to be adaptable.
“We have listened to our customers and understand some are feeling apprehensive about travelling at the moment, but still want to book in a holiday to have something to look forward to.
“I am confident our new flexible amends policy will give customers the peace of mind they need to book a holiday knowing that they can change it if, for whatever reason, they decide they want to go somewhere different or delay their trip.”
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TUI UK has introduced a new, free holiday amends policy to provide added flexibility to customers.
The new policy allows holidaymakers to make one fee-free change to their booking – including the hotel and destination – regardless of whether they are affected by Covid-19.
This applies to new bookings made between today and September 30th, for travel between August 20th this year and the end of April next year.
The offer applies to trips using TUI Airways flights for TUI, First Choice and Marella Cruise holidays.

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The booking amendment must be made at least 28 days before departure.
Richard Sofer, commercial director, TUI UK & Ireland, said: “We are in extraordinary times with circumstances that are constantly evolving, and we know we need to be adaptable.
“We have listened to our customers and understand some are feeling apprehensive about travelling at the moment, but still want to book in a holiday to have something to look forward to.
“I am confident our new flexible amends policy will give customers the peace of mind they need to book a holiday knowing that they can change it if, for whatever reason, they decide they want to go somewhere different or delay their trip.”
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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has warned governments around the world that further country-wide border closures could seriously jeopardise global economic recovery.
WTTC is urging authorities to take a more carefully calibrated approach and introduce localised measures, and only when necessary.
This would avoid blanket restrictions, prevent stalling the fragile economic recovery and not cripple the already bruised and battered tourism sector.
WTTC would support the opening of city to city ‘air corridors’ between global financial centres, such as London and Frankfurt and New York.
This would help restart business travel which is crucial to kickstarting the economic recovery.

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Unfortunately, a number of countries around the world are experiencing local coronavirus spikes.
This is forcing a re-think by a number of governments which are now having to consider reintroducing tough and unwelcome new ‘anti-travel’ measures.
According to the latest statistics from Johns Hopkins University in the US, the worldwide Covid-19 death toll has passed 606,000 while the number of confirmed coronavirus cases has now surpassed more than 14.5 million.
Gloria Guevara, WTTC president, said: “Governments should not close off access to other countries in their entirety.
“Only regional border measures should be imposed if essential, so that the recovery of a country’s whole economy is not jeopardised in future.
“The establishment of ‘air corridors’ between financial centres where infection levels are low, such as between London and New York, would provide a vital boost to business travel and aid the economic recovery.
“Enforcing country-wide restrictions is a blunt instrument which benefits no one; neither travellers, the local population, the economy or the tourism sector which has been left reeling from the impact of worldwide travel restrictions.
“Such measures could undo the significant efforts to revive tourism, which has recently shown encouraging signs of emerging from the worst of the pandemic, and which in turn has brought hope to millions of people around the world who depend upon the sector for their livelihoods.”
She added: “It is perfectly possible to fight Covid-19 and support the economic recovery through the tourism sector at the same time.
“We urge governments to consider only local lockdowns as the key to opening the door to a successful way forward.”
Image: Valery Sharifulin/Tass/PA Images
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