TC 2010: News and pictures from the Travel Convention

This year Abta’s Travel Convention is taking place in Malta, with speakers including BA chief Willie Walsh and former London mayor Ken Livingstone.

Bookmark this page for news from the two-day event, plus videos, photos, and stories from our 10 ‘agent reporters’ – frontline agents who’ll be giving us their perspective on speeches, seminars and social events.

News

Agents and operators

• Monarch would add capacity – but at a price
  Don’t expect more cheap seats, says Mantegazza
  
• Banks’ wariness could drive further consolidation
  Perceived risk presents major challenge to industry
  
• Agents profiting by move to bespoke travel
  Hays on the potential of ‘the very personal touch’
  
• Booking stats ‘crucial’ in tough economic times
  GfK boss calls for cohesive use of data
  
• Indie operators face capacity squeeze by Cook-Co-op
  Some firms may have to cut back as much as 25%
  
• More trade consolidation predicted
  Industry in ‘a constant state of flux’
  
• Tanzer calls on trade to change face of industry
  Agents have a chance to ‘make it new’
  
• Over half of holidaymakers use agents or operators
  Abta unveils results of Consumer Trends survey
  
• Health and safety onus ‘should be on suppliers’
  Abta continues drive for Europe-wide standards
  
• Domestic leaders push UK breaks to aid economy
  Private businesses can help as tourism bodies face cuts

Tourism

• Malta hails investment in tourism
  Decision to avoid funding cuts ‘is paying off’
  
• VisitBritain bullish despite 34% cut
  Marketing body still confident of hitting targets

Protection

• Flight-plus ‘could put agents at risk’
  Liability fears over protection reform model
  
• Industry regulation ‘doomed to fail’
  Fixing protection is beyond CAA’s power, says Monarch chairman
  
• Atol shambles ‘shames’ the trade
  Evans calls for more involvment from airlines
  
• Credit card protection is adequate – Pirie
  Plastic is ‘more reliable than Atol’
  
• CAA to introduce Atol certificates
  Body bids to ‘end confusion’ over protection
  
• Industry hopes for Atol announcement in November
  Aviation minister yet to decide on third party and click-through sales

Aviation

• ‘Alliances will drive airline consolidation’
  Regulatory regime makes mergers unlikely, says BA’s Crawley
  
• Stranded travellers should ‘use initiative’
  BA sales chief questions reliance on airlines and government
  
• BA applauds value of trade bookings
  Agents thanked for support during ash crisis and strikes
  
• Walsh: block on Heathrow expansion is ‘regrettable’ 
  Decision will not affect global emissions, says BA boss
  
• BA reports strong uptake for seat-choice fee
  ‘We are absolutely legitimate in charging for it’

Cruise

• Agents criticise Carnival UK’s e-ticketing switch
  Top customers ‘deserve proper presentation’
  
• ACE convention to highlight year-round appeal
  Spring event will have ‘cruise365’ theme
  
• Fred Olsen ‘must boost yield by 8% next year’
  Profitability and new tonnage dependent on revenue uplift
  
• Cruise passenger numbers to set new record
  PSA predicts 8% rise in 2011

Hotels

• Butlins to open third hotel in Bognor Regis
  Reinvesting profits is key, says Bourne Leisure

Marketing and technology

• Online reputation ‘needs dedicated staff’
  Low Cost has full-time social media monitors, reveals Evans
  
• Mobile is ‘antidote’ to commoditisation
  Channel will help push ‘more interesting product’ says BA marketing chief
  
• Don’t jump the gun on smartphones, says analyst
  …and don’t get hung up on the iPhone

Masterclass sessions

• Brand ‘should pervade your whole business’
  Don’t leave it to the marketing department, says expert
  
• Even small firms should be crisis-ready, says Longman
  Tui emergency plan ‘broadened’ after ash crisis

Video

In pictures

A selection of images from the Travel Convention 2010 gallery on travelhub. All photos by Steve Dunlop.

Agent Reporters

‘I was blown out of my comfort zone’ Pat Waterton, Langley Travel	‘Shame’ over the protection mess Conor Magee, Pinnacle Travel
Time to hire a digital native… Phil Hindle, Thyme Travel	Sometimes an eticket isn’t enough Sandy Ogier, Travelmaker Guernsey
‘New cruisers will accept etickets’ Ian Warren, Go Cruise	Demand won’t die, says top economist Sara Mason-Parker, Spires Travel
Entrepreneurs deliver food for thought Neil Basnett, Tara Travel	Will Heathrow be too small for a merged BA? Bryony Horden, Tickets Anywhere

Travel Convention preview stories

• Abta unveils new charity brand
  
• Malta hopes to change perceptions at Abta convention
  
• Abta convention programme ‘will appeal to all levels’
  
• Abta convention: Bill Turnbull to host, Ken Livingstone to give keynote
  
• Marketing ace Josh Spear to speak at Abta convention
  
• Abta revamps football tournament at Convention

What’s on: main stage business sessions

Tuesday, October 19

10.00  Welcome by moderator Bill Turnbull
10.05-10.20  Time For Change – Mark Tanzer, Abta chief executive
10.20-11.00  Driving Change – Willie Walsh, British Airways chief executive
11.00-11.35  20/20 Vision – Douglas McWilliams, Centre for Economics and Business Research, chief executive
12.30-13.05  Do Different! Turnbull interviews Kane Pirie, Travel Republic managing director, and Clive Jacobs, TWgroup chairman
13.05-13.25 Tracking the Political Landscape – Lord Norman Fowler

Wednesday, October 20

10.10-10.50 Born digital – Josh Spear, Undercurrent founding partner
15.05-15.35 Corporate Karma – Leo Johnson, PricewaterhouseCoopers partner
15.35-16.05 Driving Change – Ken Livingstone, ex-mayor of London
16.35-17.10 Loose Talk – panel debate led by Chris Photi, White Hart Associates senior partner
17.10-17.20  Closing Remarks – John McEwan, Abta chairman