Latest news with #AdvantageTravelPartnership
TTG
5 days ago
- Business
- TTG
Great Little Escapes ceases trading as Atol holder prompting CAA advisory to agents
The CAA is standing by to deal with agent queries after Great Little Escapes ceased trading as an Atol holder late last week. The company, based in Sandhurst, ceased being an Atol holder on 13 June. It held the brands Your Holidays, Great Little Escapes, Tunisia First and websites and It is a wholly separate company and brand to Great Little Breaks. The CAA said: 'If you are a travel agent of Great Little Escapes and you are currently holding consumer payments which you have not yet paid to Great Little Escapes, you must not use these funds to refund consumers until you have received instructions from the Air Travel Trust.' It added: 'Travel agents will be individually contacted by the CAA with specific instructions for these bookings.' The authority also told agents not to submit fresh claims while waiting for more information 'as these will be rejected'. Great Little Escapes specialises in city breaks, while Your Holidays has a diverse portfolio, ranging from hen and stag parties, LGBT holidays and packages for bridge players. Its latest financials show the company lost nearly £77,000 last year and recorded a deficit of £186,000 in 2023. Details of its latest Atol were unavailable from the CAA on Monday. The Great Little Escapes website currently redirects to The website carries the Advantage Travel Partnership logo and states it is "part of the Advantage Travel Partnership". TTG has contacted Advantage for comment. The group's Facebook page has been inactive since October 2023, while activity has paused on several of its other social media pages. Its Your Holidays brand was continuing to post almost daily to Facebook until Wednesday (11 June). Previous Article The agent getting her face out there – on the side of the local car wash, plus 8 other TTNG conference tips Next Article 'This is how I go the extra mile for my clients – I go with them on holiday'
The Independent
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
British passport holders to be allowed to use e-gates at more EU airports
British passport holders will be able to use e-gates at more European airports as part of a UK-EU deal, the Government has announced. Since Brexit, British travellers arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology. This has led to many passengers facing long queues, particularly during peak periods. The issue has been described as one of the most visible impacts of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. After the agreement with the EU, the Government said in a statement: 'British holidaymakers will be able to use more e-gates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said the announcement was 'a significant breakthrough for British travellers'. She told the PA news agency: 'The frustrating experience of lengthy border control queues upon arrival has been a persistent challenge for many, so the expanded access to e-gates across Europe comes as a tremendous relief. 'With this streamlined system in place, we anticipate both holidaymakers and business travellers will enjoy a much smoother, more efficient airport experience, allowing them to begin their journeys without unnecessary delays.' Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said: 'This is excellent news for British holidaymakers and will enable an even smoother passenger experience for families travelling to the EU.' British passports can currently be used at e-gates in the EU at a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal. Luke Petherbridge, director of public affairs at travel trade organisation Abta, said: 'Since Brexit, Abta has been calling for changes that will make travel easier, and we're pleased to see the UK and EU agree these steps. 'The EU is home to the UK's favourite overseas holiday destinations, and travel between our nations creates a huge boost for the UK economy and is a big driver of growth.' The EU is planning to launch its long-delayed Entry/Exit System (EES) in October. This will replace the need for people arriving in the EU from non-member countries such as the UK to have their passports stamped. Instead, they will need to have their fingerprints scanned and a photograph taken to register them on a database, with the data stored for three years. There are fears this will cause queues at EU airports, as well as at the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel's terminal in Folkestone and London's St Pancras railway station, where French border checks are carried out before people embark on cross-Channel journeys. Mr Petherbridge said: 'It is vital we continue to see good co-operation between the UK and EU on the introduction of this scheme, to make it as streamlined as possible for UK travellers.' The Government also announced that UK cats and dogs will be able to travel 'more easily' by 'eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip'. This is through the introduction of so-called pet passports.
Western Telegraph
19-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
British passport holders to be allowed to use e-gates at more EU airports
Since Brexit, British travellers arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology. This has led to many passengers facing long queues, particularly during peak periods. The issue has been described as one of the most visible impacts of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. After the agreement with the EU, the Government said in a statement: 'British holidaymakers will be able to use more e-gates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said the announcement was 'a significant breakthrough for British travellers'. She told the PA news agency: 'The frustrating experience of lengthy border control queues upon arrival has been a persistent challenge for many, so the expanded access to e-gates across Europe comes as a tremendous relief. 'With this streamlined system in place, we anticipate both holidaymakers and business travellers will enjoy a much smoother, more efficient airport experience, allowing them to begin their journeys without unnecessary delays.' Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said: 'This is excellent news for British holidaymakers and will enable an even smoother passenger experience for families travelling to the EU.' British passports can currently be used at e-gates in the EU at a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal. The Government also announced that UK cats and dogs will be able to travel 'more easily' by 'eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip'. This is through the introduction of so-called pet passports.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
British passport holders to be allowed to use e-gates at more EU airports
British passport holders will be able to use e-gates at more European airports as part of a UK-EU deal, the Government has announced. Since Brexit, British travellers arriving at EU airports have generally been forced to queue for manned desks to have their passports stamped, rather than use automated gates with facial recognition technology. This has led to many passengers facing long queues, particularly during peak periods. The issue has been described as one of the most visible impacts of the UK's withdrawal from the EU. After the agreement with the EU, the Government said in a statement: 'British holidaymakers will be able to use more e-gates in Europe, ending the dreaded queues at border control.' Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive of Advantage Travel Partnership, a network of independent travel agents, said the announcement was 'a significant breakthrough for British travellers'. She told the PA news agency: 'The frustrating experience of lengthy border control queues upon arrival has been a persistent challenge for many, so the expanded access to e-gates across Europe comes as a tremendous relief. 'With this streamlined system in place, we anticipate both holidaymakers and business travellers will enjoy a much smoother, more efficient airport experience, allowing them to begin their journeys without unnecessary delays.' Tim Alderslade, chief executive of trade body Airlines UK, said: 'This is excellent news for British holidaymakers and will enable an even smoother passenger experience for families travelling to the EU.' British passports can currently be used at e-gates in the EU at a limited number of airports in Spain and Portugal. The Government also announced that UK cats and dogs will be able to travel 'more easily' by 'eliminating the need for animal health certificates for every trip'. This is through the introduction of so-called pet passports.
Daily Mail
14-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Why all-inclusive holidays are more popular than ever as luxury hotels jump on the bandwagon
All-inclusive holidays have long been known for their bulging buffets, drink-as-much-as-you-like beers and wines, and raucous nightly entertainment. Not anymore. Premium brands are jumping on this growing bandwagon, offering a la cart menus, sophisticated cocktails and cultural experiences in sharp contrast to traditional fly and flop packages. Bookings to all-inclusive resorts have doubled every three to four years since 2018, according to data released by the Advantage Travel Partnership, representing independent travel agents in some 750 UK locations. Eight years ago, approximately 7 percent of all bookings handled by high street agents were for all-inclusive holidays. By 2022, that figure had grown to 15 percent, and, so far, by 2025 it has reached 30 percent. 'The all-inclusive has evolved hugely and now caters to all budgets, said Julia Lo Blue-Said, chief executive of the Advantage Travel Partnership, speaking at the association's conference in Malta. 'But the principle remains the same, whereby you pay up front and can then relax knowing you will keep within your budget'. Brands such as Hyatt have responded to this shift by launching its Hyatt Inclusive Collection. And family resorts like Sani, Ikos and Rixos have taken the all-inclusive upmarket, attracting more affluent clients than ever before. Rather than relying just on sun loungers on the beach, all-inclusives are offering excursions to local markets and historic sites. Ikos Resorts offers guests a 'Culture Pass', giving access to local museums and galleries, and has started a 'dine-out' option whereby packages include eating in restaurants outside the resort. 'It's hardly surprising that all-inclusives have become so popular,' says Mark White, director of Ockey White, a travel agents in Pembrokeshire. 'We started to see a big increase after Rachel Reeves's October budget, which spooked people and eroded consumer confidence.' The first all-inclusive is considered to be Club Med, launched by Belgian entrepreneur Gerard Blitz in 1950 in Alcudia, Majorca, where guests stayed in tents and basic straw huts along the beach. Today, all-inclusives increasingly are available across a variety of holiday types, including cruises, ski trips and safaris. Despite the cost of living pressures, an Advantage Travel Partnership poll of 2,000 adults from different age groups shows that people are reluctant to cut down on holidays and will make other sacrifices instead. More than 85 per cent of Gen Zs are cutting back on takeaways, eating out, gym memberships and buying clothes, while 35 percent of 45-64 year-olds are postponing home improvements. Spain, France and Greece remain popular, but new favourites are emerging based on affordability, including Slovenia, Albania and Montenegro – 'destination dupes', as they are known. And 12 percent of those polled said they go on holiday abroad to escape the UK's political and economic climate.
