We take a look through the Travel Weekly archives in our 50th year to find out what was making the headlines 10, 25 and 45 years ago
2009
• There were warnings against ignoring environmental concerns at the Institute of Travel and Tourism conference. “Travel will be knackered in 20 years if we do nothing,” said Tui Travel UK customer director Tim Williamson.
• The Association of Independent Tour Operators wrote to the government’s new enterprise champion, Sir Alan Sugar, asking him to stop small and medium-sized travel companies being unfairly targeted by major banks. Aito claimed threats to withdraw merchant services or asking for high-value guarantees were “bringing companies to their knees”.
• Advantage chief executive John McEwan was elected Abta chairman after a hard-fought battle with Britaly Travel director Daniele Broccoli. He won with 54% of the votes. Meanwhile, Abta said it would challenge Civil Aviation Authority plans to raise the Atol levy on holidays to £3 from October.
• Harvey World Travel refused to rule out further job losses following the loss of 80 roles after it fell into administration. Global Travel Lounge put in a bid for two HWT shops and was in talks with Hays Travel over a joint venture to buy more. Miles Morgan Travel bought two branches.
1994
• Airtours restructured its sales force, shedding 30 field sales jobs and creating new positions. Ski product manager Gary Wardrope was given more responsibility.
• Thomson began legal proceedings against Spanish hoteliers for overbooking clients. It planned to seek redress from hoteliers for having to pay compensation to customers who had had to change their accommodation, weeks into the summer season, despite Thomson pre-paying for beds.
• Olympic Holidays shareholder directors resigned following completion of payments to them for the company by Owners Abroad. Owners took control in 1991 and agreed to pay off directors over three years.
• P&O Cruises unveiled an aggressive three-point plan to dominate the UK cruise market after Oriana’s launch in April 1995.
1974
• Bales Tours boss George Bales launched a bitter attack on charter operators who were “killing off” his scheduled tour operator business and selling “street-corner peanuts”.
• Olympic Holidays strongly denied rumours it was involved in a takeover and stressed business was “very good”.
• Cosmos launched a scheme for its top agents, offering one free agent place for every 10 holidays booked on special allocation, and Balkan Holidays unveiled all-inclusive packages on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast from £49.50.
• Miami Beach began to make special arrangements to host Abta’s 25th anniversary convention. Hal Cohen, executive director of the Tourist Development Authority in Miami Beach, said: “Miami Beach has never had such a large group of travel trade delegates from Europe.”