Press Article

A consortium for travel agents and destination specialist tour operators who want to focus on creating bespoke packages has more than tripled in size during the Covid-19 pandemic. Merlin Travel Group was set up in 2019 by owners of homeworking agency Blixen Travel and Travel Portfolio, previously a managed service travel partner of Barrhead Travel…

Protected Trust Services (PTS) says it is recruiting members “by the day” as it revealed 162 travel companies had joined in the past year. There are now 291 travel firms in the group, more than half of which have joined since March 1, 2020. In total, PTS has 188 tour operator members, 96 travel agents…

Sunny Heart Travel hopes to be selling through agents this summer after it launches to consumers next week with a sloth mascot promoting ‘stress free holidays’. The new online tour operator, staffed by 10 ex-Thomas Cook retail staff in its call centre, goes live on March 1, initially as a direct-sell business. Its advertising mascot…

Model benefits a range of stakeholders and builds consumer confidence, says Protected Trust Services’ Tom Clay The travel industry has had, for many years, a very bad habit of using consumers’ money to finance working capital needs before providing the service for which they have been paid. This has never seemed to me to be…

Accountancy firm Elman Wall has been appointed as new independent trustees of Protected Trust Services’ air travel trust. The PTS board took the decision to appoint independent trustees that could add extra value to a growing membership. PTS claims to be “fast becoming” the safe haven and financial protection model and package travel regulation compliance…

Accountant Elman Wall has been named as the independent trustees of Protected Trust Services Air Travel Trust.PTS said the appointment will ‘add extra value’ to members. Managing Director Daniel Landen said “This is a fantastic partnership and we are thrilled to introduce Elman Wall as the PTS Independent Trustees. “The PTS trust has developed a…

Trust accounts have been the subject of much discussion during the Covid crisis owing to the heightened focus on consumer protection after so many holidays were delayed or cancelled. The CAA’s Atol consultation has suggested greater use of trust accounts could be a way forward, and just last week, Abta said it would recognise trust…

The trade is facing a “huge problem” as insurers pull out of the sector or make it harder for agents to secure financial protection against business failure. Agents are being warned to prepare for potential issues ahead of annual policy renewal dates. To adhere to the 2018 Package Travel Regulations, agents can protect consumers’ money against the…

Managing director of World Travel Lounge David McDonald tells Juliet Dennis that taking over three branches of a competitor was the right thing to do, and about the launch of Chillimix – a LGBTQ+ tour operationQ. Do you have a travel background? A. I previously worked for Thomas Cook. I had always had a dream to run a travel agency…

A new specialist tour operator aiming to become the “go-to name for LGBT travellers” is gearing up to work with agents. Chillimix, created by World Travel Lounge boss David McDonald, will initially offer beach and city holidays across 28 destinations, bookable through the brand’s website. It will start selling through the trade next month promising…