| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 01/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 70 |
| Copyright: Other |
THIS WEEK
Backchat has more top quotes, industry heroes and villains plus an early Christmas present for readers.ÁQuote
“People are the lifeblood of any airline and it is the people of British Airways who will deliver its future success.”
Rod Eddington, new British Airways chief executive, recognising the importance of staff.
H HERO
There are two this week.
Operators Prestige Holidays and Tall Stories. Both are to pay commission to agents despite clients booking direct. The pair appreciated work the agents did to secure the bookings (see Letters, page 10).
Á VILLAiN
Again, there are two – Airtours and First Choice.
They take the award for upsetting countless agents with their decision to go early with the launch of summer 2001 brochures. Quite what they hoped to achieve apart from being able to say “we were the first with our products” is beyond most people in the industry.
H picture
BestWestern has dispatched thousands of ‘Mr B’ potatoes to travel agents and is offering prizes of Getaway Breaks to whoever can groom the best vegetable hairstyle. Best Western marketing executive Justin Hayward has even composed a poem celebrating the spuds. Backchat has calculated the Mr B in the photo would make 20 chips. Vinegar, anyone?