INDUSTRY DEPARTURES
Anite media and leisure managing director Steve Bennett is believed to have left the company. The Crawley-based tour operator technology supplier refused to comment. In a separate move, Budget Rent A Car’s international leisure director Paul Johnson is thought to have parted company with the firm. Budget was unavailable for comment.
HOPLEY JOINS UNIJET
Unijet has appointed P&O Stena Line head of marketing Alan Hopley as sales and marketing director. He replaces Ed Sims, who left Unijet to join Airtours. Hopley will take up his new position on February 15. P&O Stena has not yet decided on a replacement.
CHINESE VISA CHANGE
The Chinese Embassy has reversed a new rule forcing holidaymakers to apply for visas in person at its offices in London and Manchester. A Kuoni spokesman said the Embassy had reinstated a postal visa application system following protests by tour operators, which feared bookings may be hit.
BARLOW-JONES MOVE
Former South African Tourism Board UK director Russel Barlow-Jones is joining South African Airways as marketing manager UK and Ireland. Barlow Jones starts at SAA on March 1, following the departure of Tony Farmer earlier this month. He was originally due to leave SATOUR at the end of April (Travel Weekly January 13).
EUROTUNNEL BOOM
Eurotunnel has recorded an annual increase in turnover for 1998 of 36% to£618m following a rise in passenger numbers from 15m to 20m.