page 13 government seeks investor for saa...2 n wednesday november 2 2016 quick read for...

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

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SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLYNovember 2 2016 I No. 2422

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FEATUREDOMESTIC TOURISM

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REPORTETRAVEL FORUMCeo is upbeat about SA

MY LIFE AS AN AGENTTNW profiles Lara Casasola

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Beachcomber is offering a 25-30% discount on accommodation and meals for guests who join the bridal couple for their wedding. A 25% discount applies on selected dates from November 1, 2016 to October 31, 2017 for Mauritius and Seychelles. The discount can be increased to 30% for travel between April 22 and October 8, 2017 for Mauritius and January 4-31 and June 1-30 for Seychelles. Guests must stay at the same hotel as the bridal couple. Pictured here are Beachcomber sales executives (from left): Vladi Wessels, Kirsten Johnston and Nikki Briant. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

Wedding belles!

Government seeks investor for SAASAA, SAX and Mango could soon

see the introduction of a private equity partner owning up to

a 25% stake in the three airlines, Minister of Public Enterprises Lynne Brown announced during the recent Airlines Association of Southern Africa (AASA) AGA in Swakopmund.

“It will be the first time we are looking at finding a private shareholder for all three state-owned airlines,” the Minister said. To find a shareholder for the three companies, government will need to have the airlines work closer together. Although details on how the airlines would be combined have not been finalised yet, the Minister said it could either be through a merger or through a common holding company.

“We need to force them to work together and, for the moment, that isn’t so.” She said that currently Mango was heavily reliant on SAA for its overheads. “SAA actually carries Mango without Mango paying benefits to SAA.”

Greater private-sector participation within the state-owned airlines would also mean bringing in managerial, technical and other support, said the Minister. Eventually, this could mean that the state-owned airlines would become economically and financially stable and start paying dividends to government – the airlines’ largest shareholder, she said.

The Minister said the focus for an investor was currently on a medium-haul airline.

Ethiopian Airlines would be an obvious choice, according to industry players, as it has expressed interest

in investing into other airlines on the continent. However, one industry player, who preferred to remain anonymous, said: “The three carriers combined have a nett debt north of R20bn. Why would Ethiopian Airlines want to invest in that? Especially when considering the airlines have no track record of profitability.”

“Besides the obvious financial benefit of a 25% stakeholder, SAA, SAX and Mango could also greatly benefit from the expertise of an international airline,” said June Crawford, Barsa ceo.

Closer collaboration between the three airlines is bound to be beneficial, according to Chris Zweigenthal, AASA ceo, as it will rationalise their operations.

However, in terms of competition, a merger could be ‘interesting’, says Kirby Gordon, FlySafair vp of sales and distribution. “Mango has previously had the mandate to operate competitively as a stand-alone entity without an unfair advantage with regard to state subsidisation. The integrity of this has never really been confirmed. Mango has never published financial statements and the statement issued by SAA earlier this year about SAA subsiding leases on its aircraft, and later retracted, is now the subject of an investigation by the Competition Commission. The concern here is that a merger could further blur those lines.”

According to Kirby, the onus will be on the state and the relevant watchdogs to ensure that a level playing field remains for all.

SAA trade contracts – finally AGENTS can expect to receive their SAA trade contracts by mid-November this year, more than seven months after the previous contracts have expired, inside sources at SAA told TNW.

Last year, SAA radically reviewed its contracts with the travel trade and restructured its override commission agreements (TNW May 27, 2015).

This year, the trade expects contracts to remain largely the same, although SAA has mentioned there would be a new ‘addendum’. Travel agents are unsure what this addendum might contain, and are still waiting to see the

new contracts, which should have been released on April 1.

Dinesh Naidoo, SWG group operations director says it is expected that there will be no changes to the domestic contracts, but for international contracts, agents are adopting a ‘wait and see’ approach.

Md of BidTravel, Allan Lunz, says travel agents are currently working without any agreements with the national carrier.

Without contracts with SAA, agencies haven’t been earning overrides and

To page 20

2 n Wednesday November 2 2016 QUICK READ FOR DECISION-MAKERS

NEWS

Rubes® By Leigh Rubin

Phone: (011) 327-4062 Fax: (011) 327-4094 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.nowmedia.co.za Address: Now Media Centre, 32 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, Illovo, Johannesburg. PO Box 55251, Northlands, 2116, South Africa.

TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY

Published by Travel & Trade Publishing (Pty) Ltd Printed by Juka Printing (Pty) Ltd

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EDITORIAL Acting Editor: Taryn Nightingale [email protected] Deputy Editor: Debbie Badham [email protected] Deputy Publisher: Natasha Schmidt [email protected] Journalists: Darise Foster Dorine Reinstein Leigh Hermon Hilka Birns Max Marx Michelle Colman

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SALES Sales Director: Kate Nathan [email protected] Ad Co-ordinator: Anthea Lucas [email protected]

PRODUCTION Design Head: Dirk Voorneveld

SUBSCRIPTIONS Circulation: [email protected]

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Emirates – SA flight cuts unlikely Debbie baDham

EMIRATES’ possible capacity cuts to Africa are unlikely to include South

Africa, industry experts say. “In certain African countries

the currencies have really gone down, so we’re reflecting on [African routes] where it’s just not worth us travelling to,” president Tim Clark said at a recent International Air Transport Association event in Dubai.

The airline has since suspended its four times a week service between Abuja and Dubai with effect from October 30 but was unable to tell TNW which other countries were in line for capacity cuts.

June Crawford, ceo of

Barsa, says it is standard practice for airlines to review route profitability, as weak currencies have a negative effect on the profitability of routes as tickets are paid for in local currency, despite the airline saving on landing, parking and other services (also paid for in local currency).

But, industry players believe it’s unlikely that South Africa is included on the list of possible capacity cuts, despite the highly volatile rand. Dinesh Naidoo, group operations director of Serendipity Worldwide Group, says, if anything, Emirates is likely to increase capacity to South Africa as a result of significant demand. He says this would

possibly be achieved through the introduction of new aircraft, starting with the Johannesburg route.

Kendy Phohleli, md of XYZ Consulting, says he would be surprised if Emirates cut capacity to South Africa as the airline is doing really well here. He says, following capacity cuts to Nigeria, Emirates will need to redeploy these aircraft somewhere else and it would be on a route where they would make the most profit.

“From both a product and price perspective, [Emirates] is really good at what they do. If routes were cut it would negatively impact the consumer,” says Garth Wolff, ceo of the eTravel Group.

Fraudsters exploit agents’ trustLeigh hermon

AGENTS are increasingly vulnerable to fraud that exploits the trust they have with corporate clients. It begins with a client referral and ends in the agency being bled dry.

In 2014, a Johannesburg agency lost almost R2 million in four days at the hands of fraudsters. After the incident, the agency was more vigilant and avoided a similar attack last month.

In the 2014 fraud, the agency received a referral from a corporate client asking its travel agent to help one of the corporate’s foreign branches with travel bookings.

The corporate’s PA had forwarded an email to the agency that she had received from a fraudster who was pretending to come from the client’s London branch.

The email said the branch’s travel desk was “offline” for the next month and they needed someone to book and co-ordinate their travel for the next few days. Trusting its client, the agency obliged and started to book tickets. The bookings were spread across several airlines and were mostly business-class tickets on flights from Nigeria to Atlanta, Johannesburg and Frankfurt.

The fraudsters used multiple credit cards during the booking process. “This guy had 15-20 different credit cards that he gave us for the air tickets,” said one of the agency’s directors.

After the client’s cards kept being declined, the consultants became suspicious.

“We then looked into his email domain only to find out it was registered to a home

in Pretoria and not in the UK as he claimed.” The client had even created a fake LinkedIn account with all the company’s information.

The agency was able to recoup only R700 000 of the R1,8m in losses incurred from airline ticket bookings. Due to the cost of investigating further, the agency chose not to pursue it. “It cost us probably another R70 000 to get people to look into it and in the end we decided we couldn’t afford this.”

The agency received a similar email on October 6 saying that the company’s travel desk was “undergoing maintenance and upgrading for the month”. After some quick fact-checking, the agency spotted the fraud attempt and immediately warned its consultants to ignore requests from the fraudster.

Protect yourself:Christo Snyman, national director of forensic sciences at Mazars, and the agency that fell victim to the fraud, give tips on how to protect your agency:1. Be wary of excuses: No

travel desk or agency is offline for a month.

2. Phone the company

directly and check the validity of their requests. Do not use the phone number on the email. Rather look up the company’s details online.

3. Check the routing of the tickets. It is unlikely that a company based in London would

need flights from Johannesburg to New York via Lagos.

4. Be suspicious of people using multiple credit cards for each booking.

5. Be wary of urgent bookings for travel that needs to be completed in less than five days.

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SA Express reinstates three major routes

SA EXPRESS has resumed operations on its Johannesburg-Port

Elizabeth, Johannesburg-East London and Durban-Cape Town routes, effective November 1.

The airline recently announced its intention to withdraw these services, however it has now decided to resume the services on reduced frequencies.

The new schedule is as follows:

Flight SA1457 departs Johannesburg on Mondays Fridays and Sundays at 17h20,

arriving in Port Elizabeth at 19h50. Return flight SA1460 departs Port Elizabeth on Tuesdays at 06h10 and arrives in Johannesburg at 08h00. On Fridays and Sundays, flight SA1458 departs Port Elizabeth at 20h00 and arrives in Johannesburg at 21h35.

Flight SA1409 departs Johannesburg for East London on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays at 17h30 and arrives at 19h00. Return flight, SA1410 departs East London on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays at 19h40 and arrives

in Johannesburg at 21h10. On Mondays, SA1850

departs Durban at 06h10 and arrives in Cape Town at 08h25. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, flight SA1858 departs Durban at 15h35 and arrives in Cape Town at 17h50.

The return flight SA1851 departs Cape Town on Mondays at 09h05 and arrives in Durban at 11h05. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, flight SA1858 departs Cape Town at 18h15 and arrives in Durban at 20h15.

KQ adds CPT-NBO flightsKENYA Airways is upping its flights from Cape Town to Nairobi via Livingstone, effective November 21.

As part of adjustments to its winter schedule, the airline will increase frequencies on its CPT-NBO route that launched in July. The current three flights will be increased to four a week, then to five and eventually to six times a week to meet demand during the Christmas period. Once the holiday season is over the flights will operate four times a week.

Effective November 21, flight KQ 783 will depart

CPT on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 14h20 and arrive in LVI at 17h15, departing at 17h50 to arrive in NBO at 21h50. Return flight KQ 782 will depart NBO at 07h30 to arrive in LVI at 09h40, departing at 10h20 to arrive in CPT at 13h25 on the same days.

Effective December 19 another flight will be added on a Saturday and, on December 26, a Thursday flight will be included, both with the same flight number. From January 9 the schedule will return to four times a week.

Polokwane property undergoes refurbTSOGO Sun recently completed the refurbishment of its 180-room Garden Court Polokwane.

The hotel was treated to a facelift of the rooms, bathrooms, gardens, restaurants and conference centre. Complimentary WiFi is available in all the rooms.

For business travellers, there are now self-service workstations equipped with email, copy and fax facilities.

The new conference space can accommodate up to 120 people and can be reconfigured into two separate venues for smaller meetings, workshops or

training sessions. “The old conference venues were completely demolished and we now have a state-of-the-art conference facility. Additionally, our experienced event management team is always on hand to create tailor-made conference experiences,” says gm, Gert Strydom.

The Graceland complex in Secunda, Mpumalanga, has completed a R60 million refurbishment of the Peermont Walmont Hotel, the Casino and Country Club. The hotel has renovated three of the four floors, including the junior and presidential suites. The entertainment centre now features new games in the arcade, and a childcare facility, KidzDen. A new cocktail bar, Moo Bar, has opened and there are two restaurants, the Blue Bayou and the Madison Bistro and Family Restaurant. The Rootz Boutique spa has also been upgraded.

To the point

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NEWS

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Virgin Atlantic Airways recently visited the trade in cities across South Africa as part of its annual roadshow. On October 18, the airline stopped in Johannesburg at the Melrose Arch Fire & Ice Hotel. Pictured here, at the event are, Sandra Markotter (left), business manager and Pfiwani Ligavha, senior consultant of HRG Rennies Travel. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl.

Botswana introduces UBC requirementKim EmmanuEl

IN A move that has shocked the industry, Botswana has introduced similar

requirements to South Africa’s for children travelling into and out of the country.

Minors travelling through Botswana’s borders are required to produce certified copies of unabridged birth certificates in addition to their valid passports effective from October 1, the Botswana government said in a statement.

“We will not allow any children under the age of 18 to enter or leave our country without the documents we require from parents,” director of Immigration and Citizenship, Mabuse Pule, told TNW. According to Mabuse, industry stakeholders in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector had been consulted. He advised all

in the affected sector to include the requirement in their website and advertorial packages so that parents who travel to Botswana with children do not suffer inconvenience at ports of entry.

In cases where one parent is not travelling with the child, the other parent’s affidavit consenting to such travel should be produced. However, an affidavit will not be required if the father’s name does not appear on the child’s birth certificate.

Sean Hough, ceo of Pentravel says: “I am shocked, not only by the move, but by the suddenness. I think any reasonable person looking at South Africa as a case

study would conclude that this is probably not the best way of handling the issue. The truth is, it will have little impact on South Africans travelling to Botswana as the UBC requirement when leaving the country to travel is now widely known and accepted by South Africans.”

According to the official statement, the development aims to manage the movement of children across the country’s borders and has the “ultimate goal of tackling human trafficking which is a global challenge”.

David Frost, Satsa ceo, told TNW that he was “gobsmacked” by the move after it did damage to South Africa’s tourism industry, adding that Home Affairs had still not provided the industry with any evidence as to how the requirement of an unabridged birth certificate tackled the issue of child trafficking.

“I am shocked, not only by the move, but by the

suddenness.”

Virgin hits the road

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MY LIFE AS AN AGENT

Visit: www.travelinfo.co.za

Training when it suits you!

WIN a trip to Northern Mozambique!Find out more about this unspoiled and secluded area, with stunning islands and coastal resorts, in this online workshop

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Sensitive go-getter aims for successIn the latest My Life as an Agent, Taryn Nightingale profiles Lara Casasola, md and owner of Lara Travel, who, despite her sensitive nature, has the tenacity of a bulldog when it comes to achieving her goals.

LARA Casasola describes herself as sensitive and intense but says she can

be very hard on herself when she doesn’t achieve what she planned. She believes in creating a family environment at work and trusts her staff not to take advantage. She says one staff member often likes to tell new employees: “See how sweet and nice she is – don’t believe it – when she loses it you won’t want to see her do it again!”

Her parents are originally from Italy and are almost the opposite of one another, she says. “My mom is so social and relaxed and so, ‘so-what-who-cares’ and my dad is a real German – ‘this table must be straight and take

your feet off the couch’. She says although she’s mostly a balance between the two, she thinks she’s probably more like her dad, but that she got her love of travel from her mom, who always encouraged her to experience life and the world.

Lara’s softer caring side comes through when she talks about her children. She says her daughter is “her rock and friend” and says she loves her son to bits. She believes in letting her children make their own mistakes, even when they’re failing. “If I force them to do what I want, I’ll damage our relationship by showing them I don’t trust them.”

She learned a similar lesson when she started her company 20 years ago: “I was such a

control freak and learned that I had to allow people to work the way they wanted.” One staff member didn’t want to work on Saturdays and Lara told her: “If you don’t like it, then leave.” The employee came back to work on Monday and then, resigned. “I realised that that didn’t work as well as I thought it would,” she says. In the first five years of running her own company, Lara says she realised she had to listen to her staff when there was a problem and then explain why she needed what she did from them. She believes when staff stay at a company it’s a sign the business is successful. She now has staff who have worked at Lara Travel for 15 years.

Getting aheadBefore she joined the travel industry Lara worked at an advertising firm. “I always want to be the best and when I started as a junior artist – a nobody – I was already enquiring about how to be an art director.”

Soon enough, the late, lonely nights of the advertising world became too much for Lara and after freelancing for a while, she did a safari course, because back then “you wouldn’t get anywhere in travel without it”. She started her first job in the industry doing filing at a company called Travel and Tourism. Lara climbed the career ladder quickly; within

two-and-half years she made assistant manager and after three, became manager of the branch. She says her insecurity about being in a new industry made her work even harder. “I was so afraid that my boss would see I didn’t know how to do things so I made sure I understood everything.” After Lara fell pregnant, she asked the company if they’d set her up at home, but they declined. She was determined to work from home and after persisting with the then Galileo, the GDS eventually helped her set up her business. “I then started writing my goals in my diary and slowly started ticking each of them off.”

Getting to know Lara Lara likes listening to

relaxed, ‘chilled’ music, like Sade, she says. She first wanted to

become an architect but then went on to study interior design. She keeps a slab of

the 85% dark Lindt chocolate next to her bed and nibbles on a block every night before she goes to sleep.

She says, “Stress is only stress if you don’t do something properly the first time,” adding that if you do something properly the first time, the risk of it failing or backfiring is drastically minimised. Lara studied art as a

child and now paints and draws in her free time.

Lara Casasola

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NEWS

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The luxury SeaDream Yacht Club is exploring new waters and hopes to enter the expedition travel market in 2019 with the introduction of larger boats carrying more than double its current capacity (112 passengers). SeaDream Yacht Club is one of Cruises International’s luxury brands and offers itineraries in the Mediterranean, transatlantic and Caribbean. Pictured here, from left, are Thomas G. Harrison, sales director of Sea Dream Yacht Club and George Argyropoulos, md of Cruises International. Photo: Taryn Nightingale

Let’s get luxurious

Celebrity Cruises ups offeringCELEBRITY Cruises has added more sailings to its European cruises and on-board activities for 2017. The cruise line’s newest ship, Celebrity Reflection, now offers eight 11-night sailings in the western Mediterranean, with stops in Florence, Nice and Gibraltar and four in Spain. Celebrity Constellation’s 2017 programme will see the ship stop in new ports including Monte Carlo, Monaco, and Sète, France. Celebrity Cruises will also introduce Summer Camp at Sea for children on its European sailings which will include a cooking at sea activity for children aged three to 17. The Taste of Europe programme for adults will include a culinary demo with featured chefs, mixology demos and wine tastings.

Crystal River Cruises adds to its fleetCRYSTAL River Cruises recently celebrated the start of construction of its newest luxury river vessels at the MV Werften Shipyard in Germany. The two new ships, Crystal Bach and Crystal Mahler, are scheduled to embark on their maiden voyages next year along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. Bookings for the first season are already open.

MSC Seaview bookings now openMSC has opened bookings for the latest addition to its fleet, the MSC Seaview. As part of its inaugural season, the MSC Seaview will sail in the western Mediterranean in June 2018. Stops include Genoa, Marseille and Barcelona. Seaview is MSC’s second smart ship to incorporate the latest technology. Through the use of cruise cards, bracelets or smartphones, customers will be able to keep track of their children using geo-location, gain access to their cabins and pay for services and products. Interactive screens on board will allow guests to book shows, restaurants and excursions.

DreamBoatsSend your cruising news to [email protected]

G Adventures launches new trips

G ADVENTURES has partnered with National Geographic Journeys to

launch 18 new trips for 2017.The itineraries include new

tours in Namibia, Japan and Canada, and are now available for sale with departures beginning in April.

The 10-day Wonders of Namibia tour will take travellers on a guided game drive with the National Geographic-associated Cheetah Conservation Fund. There will also be a tour of

Mondesa Township with a resident guide, followed by a dinner and local entertainment in a family home.

On the Iconic Japan trip, travellers will spend 12 days exploring the country’s culture and food. There’ll be a walk through Tokyo’s famous Tsukiji Fish Market, a sushi-making class, a tour of a local temple, a martial arts performance, and the chance to learn about Zen calligraphy.

The Canadian Polar Bear Experience is a six-day tour

into the animals’ natural habitat with an expert from Polar Bears International. Travellers will explore the collection of Inuit art and artefacts at the Eskimo Museum, listen to a lecture about the area as well as hear from a resident about life in the isolated town of Churchill.

The Journeys collection was launched in January and with the addition of these new itineraries, the total number of tours in the collection is 83.

The Golden Heart of Hosting

Advertisement

Gauteng continues to be a powerful and unique conferencing and events

destination with its strong calendar of major events, unparalleled infrastructure and facilities as well as the foresight and capacity to attract international interest and a high level of conversion.

The Gauteng Conventions & Events Bureau is a sub-unit of the Gauteng Tourism Authority. The bureau is led by Nonnie Kubeka and is tasked with growing the province’s business events share. In the most recent (2015) rankings, Johannesburg has seen an improvement on the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) rankings to 102 worldwide from 136 two years previously. Johannesburg is ranked 2nd in Africa.

More than 50 airlines land at OR Tambo International; there is a professional and safe network of quality conference venues, hotels and guesthouses; world-class golf courses abound; and the province has hosted a number of international conferences, summits and conventions.

The province is served by three major metropolitan councils, namely Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni, and two smaller municipal councils on the borders of the province – West Rand District Municipality and Sedibeng. These five regions boast more than 430 conference facilities, some of them five-star, hosting an average of 13 000 events annually.

Gauteng successfully hosted the world for the opening and closing matches of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup. The province previously hosted other World Cup games including finals in both cricket and rugby. Nasrec Stadium has a state-of-the-art international conferencing network, as do several other venues in the province. Gauteng has also hosted several large-scale conferences. Events taking place this year – and in the future – include the Arnold Classic Africa (2016-2018) and the South African Drum Majorette & Cheerleading Championships 2016 during which over 20 000 visitors are expected to come to Ekurhuleni. Over 10 days in 2018, the World Choir event will attract over 28 000 delegates to hotels in Tshwane.

Johannesburg and Tshwane (Pretoria), the province’s two major cities, welcome diplomats and business people every day and much of the infrastructure has been developed to host busy visitors. These two principal cities make Gauteng the commercial and industrial heart of South Africa.

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank, as well as the Pan-African Parliament are also located in Gauteng.

In cosmopolitan Sandton, Johannesburg’s leading business hub and the home of Africa’s richest square mile, are many corporate headquarters, the Johannesburg Securities Exchange, the award-winning Sandton Convention Centre and a wide choice of internationally branded hotels with high-tech meeting and event facilities. Here you’ll also find four world-class shopping centres and a wealth of leisure facilities, from bars and restaurants to theatres, art galleries, cinemas and entertainment venues.

Access to the Sandton CBD and

adjacent suburbs for meetings in Gauteng is easy with the Gautrain high-speed rail service that transports passengers from OR Tambo International Airport into the heart of Sandton in just 15 minutes. Feeder bus services are operated from the station to many of Johannesburg’s suburbs.

Besides the Sandton Convention Centre, Gauteng has many other excellent meeting venues. In Midrand, between Johannesburg and Pretoria, is the award-winning Gallagher Convention Centre, which can accommodate up to 12 000 visitors in a variety of venues. The CSIR International Convention Centre in Pretoria can accommodate up to 450 people

in its largest venue.Emperors Palace Convention

Centre can host 6 000 delegates, while Gold Reef City Casino, with its theme park depicting turn-of-the-century gold mining, can cater for over 450 delegates. Its location close to the Apartheid Museum and Soweto makes it an ideal venue from which to explore South Africa’s political past.

In Johannesburg, you’ll also find Montecasino Corporate Events (1 000 delegates), the Indaba Hotel & Conference Centre (over 900 delegates), and the upmarket Summer Place (350 delegates). Other venues worth a mention include the Johannesburg Expo Centre (Nasrec) at Crown Mines, Johannesburg, and the Ticketpro Dome at Northgate, North Riding.

Besides these outstanding venues with world-class infrastructure and facilities, the province offers a variety of unique tourism products and destinations. These include the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and the Dinokeng area, with the sparkling jewel of Cullinan, the Roodeplaat Dam and surrounds and the Dinokeng Game Reserve, which is the free-roaming Big Five game reserve closest to the golden heart of the bustling city-region. Other tourism sites that may interest visitors include Liliesleaf Farm, the Constitution Hill, Freedom Park and the Hector Peterson Memorial. The province already dominates African business tourism and is far higher than the country’s national average in this sector and constantly strives for the top position in the country and the whole African continent.

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Nasrec Expo Centre

Sandton Convention Centre

Tshwane Events Centre

For more information on what’s happening in Gauteng, what to do and where to go, visit www.gauteng.net download our Gauteng Travel Guide APP on Google Play and App Store, follow us on Facebook ilovegauteng, on Twitter @visitgauteng with #GPLifestyle #GeePeeShotLeft


REPORT ETRAVEL FORUM

TNW attended the recent eTravel Forum in Century City Conference Centre, Cape Town. Kate Nathan reports.

eTravel boss is upbeat on SA

AT a time when many South Africans are keenly feeling doom and

gloom as a result of political and economic situation in the country, it is refreshing to hear how optimistic Garth Wolff is about the future of South Africa.

Speaking at an awards dinner at the eTravel forum, the ITC brand’s annual conference, Garth, ceo of

eTravel (the pioneer of the idea of ITC model in South Africa) said at first glance many factors in the economy looked bleak, but South Africans should not be daunted. Garth said he was as positive about the future of eTravel as he was about that of the country.

And for eTravel, that future does look bright. Garth has just taken the company

to the milestone R1bn in turnover. Over the past three-year period, acknowledged to have been a difficult time in business in SA, Garth has led eTravel from an R891m turnover, with 151 ITCs in 2014, to R1bn turnover, with 161 ITCs in 2016. What’s more, he projects still more growth in 2017, predicting a turnover of well over a billion rands.

Business mix changes

Major league MobstersThe theme of the awards dinner at the eTravel forum was Gangsters and Molls. eTravel

agents and suppliers to the ITC all kitted up in their best gangster get-ups.

The team who make all the magic happen... (from left) Avril-Leigh Shackelton, travel manager inland; Tammy Hunt, operations director; Garth Wolff, ceo, and Truda Louw, travel manager coastal.

Top ITC of eTravel in 2016 is Dawn Stockwell of Travel the Globe (third from left). She is pictured with, from left, Tammy Hunt, Shaun Stober, and Garth Wolff.

Saluting the champions. (From left) Tammy Hunt, Shaun Stober, financial director, with top commission-earner of the year, Angela Blythe of A2B Travel, and Garth Wolff.

A couple of hoodlums! Beachcomber sales and marketing manager, Joanne Visagie and Cruises International ceo, George Argyropoulos.

SAA’s own Gatsby Glamour Girl, Denise Kotze, retail channel manager Market SA.

Photos: Kate Nathan

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DOMESTIC TOURISMAre SA Resident Rates a good solution to the high cost of domestic travel? Dorine Reinstein reports.

Don’t forget to check SA Resident Rates!

WITH popular local hotels adjusting their rates to cater for the

international market, local travel for South Africans can become quite costly. A recent study conducted by SA Tourism shows that domestic travellers view lack of affordability as the key barrier to travel.

Hotels that offer local Resident Rates for South Africans, however, can sometimes provide the answer for clients with budget constraints.

“Res Rates definitely offer a good deal. They also include value-adds to encourage South Africans to travel within the country,” says Karen Terrell-Kramvis, group gm SunSales, Sun International.

John Ridler, pr and media manager for Thompsons Holiday, agrees: “The difference between domestic rates and normal STO rates can represent a saving of anything between 5% and 35%, depending on the property.”

But Rian Bornman, md of Flightsite, points out that these rates don’t always offer the best value for money. He says it is advisable for travel agents to double check the rates. “We aggregate content from global aggregators and find that SA Res Rates are often

more expensive than the globally contracted rates we have access to.”

Rachael Penaluna, business manager at Sure Maritime Travel, says: “It is a good idea to check several sources of booking when advising a client on rates – your own GDS negotiated rates, Internet portals, rate of the day and many specials, which include low-season rates, winter rates, couples’ and long-stay specials. Many hotels offer a ‘stay four and pay three’ or similar packages.”

Craig Parvess, kulula holidays senior product manager for South Africa, says travel agents should also check before promising any Resident Rates. He says domestic rates are subject to availability and season. “Over peak periods, these rates are often not applicable due to high

occupancies.” “Some hotels

-- mainly game lodges -- only offer SA Res Rates for ‘last-minute’ sales and these are usually only available between 60 days and seven days prior to travel,” says John. “Any bookings made outside this window period would have to be booked at the higher STO rate. This enables the properties to capitalise on revenue from early bookers and non-SA residents.”

He says many properties allocate a selected amount of rooms for SA

Res bookings and, once exceeded, the higher STO rate applies.

Themba Masheula, brand manager and communications manager for The Blue Train, says it only offers resident specials “from time to time”. “These rates are used as a yield-management strategy during our low-occupancy dates.”

Too pricey for locals?SOME members of the industry believe that attractions around the country should also start introducing dual pricing.

Various reports have revealed that domestic tourism figures in South Africa are declining. James Vos, DA Shadow Minister of Tourism, says the main reason is that tourism has simply become too expensive. “More should be done to make government-owned resorts, parks, nature reserves and the like affordable to our citizens.” He says the solution is to introduce a campaign titled ‘Experience

My South Africa’, which would focus specifically on encouraging South Africans to get out and explore the country, while addressing affordability issues and limited geographic spread.

The initiative would also give all South Africans free or discounted entry to government-owned national parks, reserves, museums and the like, on non-religious public holidays in South Africa.

A system of dual pricing, whereby foreign visitors would pay different fees to domestic visitors, should also be introduced, says James.

Book it!

Thompsons Holidays is offering a Blue Train package for SA residents from R12 277pps. The package includes one night on the Blue Train with all meals and drinks, from Pretoria to Cape Town, two nights at African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel & Spa, three days’ car rental and return flights, including taxes, from Cape Town to Johannesburg. This package is valid until November 28.

“Domestic rates are subject to availability and season. Over peak periods, these rates

are often not applicable due to high

occupancies.”Craig Parvess

The Blue Train offers specials during low-occupancy dates. Photo: The Blue Train

KZN Drakensberg. Photo: SAT


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Add value to local bookingsWHILE agents have not traditionally sold a significant amount of domestic travel, there are initiatives in place to change this, with South African Tourism working with Asata members to promote and sell local holidays.

There are great opportunities for travel agents to add value to domestic bookings by giving travellers information on activities and events at their destinations, helping clients find the best deals and advising them on rand-stretcher tips.

“The role of agents can never be underestimated – whether in domestic or international travel – the advice, service and knowledge base of a travel

agent will continue to serve the travelling public with immense value,” says Hein Kaiser, spokesperson for Mango.

A recent study by SA Tourism found that locals felt they didn’t have enough information about what was on offer in their own country. They’re keen to expand their horizons and explore unfamiliar destinations but with only ‘word-of-mouth’ recommendations and no ‘real’ information, they end up going to the same old destinations.

“Based on the findings of Asata’s 21st Century Travel Agent Study, consultants can add true value by understanding fully their

customers’ requirements and contexts, and delivering an end-to-end travel experience that exceeds expectations,” says Asata ceo, Otto de Vries. “Travel consultants who go beyond the transaction and truly consult, providing professional service and, placing their customer at the heart of their business, will add value to domestic travellers’ journey.”

He says Asata encourages travel consultants to experience their own country at every opportunity so that their first-hand experience, supplier relationships and intimate knowledge of customers’ requirements will ensure the journey is both painless and pleasant.

Get creative! TRAVEL agents must get creative to attract budding SA domestic travellers. While packages are a great option, according to the SA Tourism study, travellers often feel restricted by their lack of flexibility.

With products such as The Blue Train, travel agents can add value by integrating the train experience into a more elaborate itinerary. Says The Blue Train’s Themba Masheula: “The Blue Train is an experience on its own and travel agents should not include it in the guests’ itinerary as an add-on, but should rather book it as part of the comprehensive itinerary of their clients or an extension thereof.”

Pre-book attractions John Ridler of Thompsons Holidays suggests encouraging clients to pre-book as many attractions as possible prior to travelling. “They will generally benefit from purchasing these tickets at reduced rates and will also then not have to queue to purchase tickets.”

Rachael Penaluna of Sure Maritime Travel says: “Ask what needs to be included in the booking, for example car rental, flights, accommodation, meals. Make suggestions for local tours and find out if you can pre-book guaranteed tours such as Robben Island before the client travels.

That way, the tour is already paid for and not included in the on-holiday budget.”

Travel agents should also make sure that all the car-rental logistics of the trip are arranged.

“When booking car rental, ask if the client needs a GPS or a baby seat. If it is for a couple, suggest that they hire a convertible vehicle for the duration of their stay,” says Rachael.

For the flight, travel agents should make sure to check pre-seating, she says. “Offer to check in all passengers, especially when booking for families travelling with children or larger groups.”

Travel agents can add real value by making sure the client has all the facts that will allow them to plan their holiday properly. “Check if the hotel offers airport transfers. This is often cheaper than a point-to-point or hiring a vehicle. Many hotels also offer transfers into town,” says Rachael.

Sport and music events are a great inspiration for South Africans to pack their bag and explore the country, according to SA Tourism.

It’s a good idea to give clients an event timetable for the destination they are visiting, agrees Rachael. “They’ll like to know which markets, music concerts, local events and seasonal attractions like waterparks to look out for.”

Did you know?

Birchwood recently introduced ValuStay@Birchwood, affordable accommodation for the conventional traveller looking for a comfortable, no-frills and centralised hotel stay. ValuStay@Birchwood features 96 rooms that don’t offer the ‘unnecessary’ frills often not required for busy business travellers and touring groups. Included in the rooms are all the comforts expected of the Birchwood Hotel, including complimentary high speed WiFi access, a work station, DStv and air-conditioning. ValuStay@Birchwood also offers clients a complimentary airport shuttle service and a dedicated porter facility.

Golden Gate National Park – first-hand experience is important for agents. Photo: SAT

Pre-book tours to Robben Island to avoid queues. Photo: Dirk Voorneveld

DOMESTIC TOURISM

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DOMESTIC TOURISM

Where to send your clients this DecemberTHE December holidays are just round the corner and there are a number of exciting local destinations and itineraries travel agents can suggest to their clients.

“The travel agent must complete a needs analysis with the client to ascertain what type of property to sell them,” says John Ridler from Thompsons Holidays.

“Families need safe play areas for kids and other distractions like a beach, while couples and those wanting peace need a smaller boutique hotel. The super-active need mountains and possibly more remote areas for hiking, cycling and other sports of their choice.”

For families

For quiet travellers

For active travellers

For romantic travellers

It’s important to consider different itineraries for short breaks for families as opposed to long holidays, says Nicholas Barenblatt, group marketing manager of Protea Hotels.

A bush break could be the ideal answer. Premier Hotels & Resorts’ Mpongo Private Game Reserve is ideal for families with children. It has a treasure trove of activities that will strike a chord with visitors with a passion for the outdoors, including game drives, horseback safaris and mountain biking, and trail running for those who want to keep extra holiday kilos at bay.

“Thanks to its abundance of game and bird life, Mpongo is a special place for the whole family. Little ones will no doubt enjoy learning more about the environment at the resort’s Edu-Centre. Family fun activities range from playing on the jungle gyms and enjoying some table tennis, to the interactive kids’ zone

and game drives where they can get up close and personal with animals,” says Grant Sandham, group sales and marketing manager at Premier Hotels & Resorts.

The beaches of KZN are another popular option for family travellers in December. “On the way to the coast, stop off at some

of the many family-friendly spots along the Midlands Meander: mountain-biking or ordinary cycling in a range of spots, play putt-putt in Balgowan, take a kite along and you’ll find plenty of places to try it out on the green lawns, or enjoy adventure at Karkloof Canopy Tours,” Nicholas suggests.

Finding the right itinerary for quieter, more reserved travellers during the December holidays can be a challenge. “The December and January periods can be frenetic at many of the top tourist destinations in the country, so if you are looking for something quieter,

choosing a small town can be the answer,” says Nicholas.

He says Nature’s Valley on the Garden Route has a wonderful and quiet beach. The West Coast region outside Cape Town also doesn’t attract large numbers of tourists. “Spend

time at Langebaan Lagoon or further north where you’ll have a really relaxing time in a town like Velddrif or at the Clanwilliam Dam. Darling and Riebeek Kasteel are also both quaint country towns known for their food, craft beer and wine,” Nicholas suggests.

The Drakensberg, with its deep gorges, pinnacles and saw-edged ridges and caves is an adventure tourist’s playground. There are game sanctuaries, Bushman rock art sites, challenging peaks and cascading waterfalls, and it is a magnet for hikers. More adventurous adrenalin junkies also won’t be bored, with a range of thrilling experiences

from zip lines, to hikes, abseiling, helicopter flips and quad biking.

The Garden Route is also a firm favourite with active travellers, says Sure Maritime Travel’s Rachael Penaluna. She says it offers beautiful scenery and zip line and canopy tours.

Blackwater tubing in the Storms River in the Garden

Route, is also popular. The Wild Coast is attractive

for adventurers. “A range of exciting activities awaits travellers to the Wild Coast, from an 18-hole challenging championship golf course that stretches along the expansive coast, flanking the Mtamvuna River, to rugged, unspoilt beaches,” says Karen Terrell-Kramvis of SunSales.

Combining a Blue Train trip with a spa destination in the winelands is always a winner. “A Blue Train combo is a memorable and unique holiday for romantic travellers, especially when combined with a hotel stay,” says Rachael.

“The Blue Train is perfect for celebrations – honeymoons, special milestone birthdays, and anniversaries. It is elegant and chic with every detail taken care of!” agrees the train’s Themba Masheula.

Cape Town also offers the ideal setting for romantic travellers, according to Rachael. “Look for something exclusive, like Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa.”

Nicholas says there are some amazing spots for watching the sunset while sipping a glass of local wine. “Try Signal Hill in Cape Town or Beta Beach in Camps Bay.”

Book it!

Kulula holidays is offering a special of R1 729pps for the Falaza Game Park in Hluhluwe in KZN. The package includes two nights in a luxury tent and breakfast daily. Travellers staying three nights will receive one complimentary Umfolozi/Hluhluwe game drive per person during their stay. The special is valid for SADC residents only and for travel between November 1 and April 30.

Mpongo Private Game Reserve is ideal for families. Photo: Premier Hotels & Resorts

The ideal setting for romantics. Photo: Le Franschhoek Hotel and Spa


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Tel: (011) 408-8000Fax: (011) 782-7624email: [email protected]

EGYPT8 NightsFrom R9 835 ppsLand onlyT&C apply

GREECE10 NightsFrom R24 476 ppsIncluding flightsT&C apply

SPAIN6 NightsFrom R21 855ppsIncluding flightsT&C apply

TURKEY10 Nights From 17 249ppsIncluding flights T&C apply

Turkey

Sales for the Med are starting to recover, writes Michelle Colman.

Travellers are returning

TRAVEL to destinations around the Med took a knock at the beginning of

the season – a consequence of terrorism and publicity surrounding the influx of migrants – but sales to a number of destinations have started to pick up.

Annemarie Lexow, sales and marketing manager at Travel Vision, says for the most part South Africans are rather opting for destinations where they get value for money without concerns for their safety.

However, Theresa Szejwallo, md of Trafalgar, says there is some rebound in the Mediterranean. “Initially we had a slowdown in sales when the incident in France took place, however sales are now back to normal. Greece is picking up again. Turkey sales are slow but we

continue to promote it as it has been a top seller for Trafalgar and we are confident sales will pick up again.”

She says guided holidays, like those Trafalgar markets, offer the best possible support on the ground in the event of any incident. “Our guests won’t need to think about what to do next – we will do that for them.”

Thompsons Holidays also notes some upturn. “Egypt is making a comeback but Turkey has taken a knock, although we are still receiving calls for escorted tours and for destinations beyond Istanbul.

Greece and Aegean cruising are also making a recovery,” says pr and media manager, John Ridler.

Wally Gaynor, md of Club Travel, feels the Greek Islands are still a good holiday option, where evidence of the

country’s economic meltdown is not as marked as it is in Athens, and the influx of migrants is less noticeable. The country, however, being part of the Eurozone, is not as cheap as Turkey. “Egypt is great value for money and, as I always say, the best time to visit a destination is when everybody else is staying away – prices are cheap and the locals are so happy that you have come.”

Greece has remained a firm favourite and a value-for-money option, says Wendy Goutier, group operations manager for Dreams. “Airfares have also been great value, making the destination more affordable.”

In Turkey, Dreams has seen interest in outer areas and cost-effective gulet trips as opposed to group or escorted tours.

Deals going for a stealThere are some great deals for travel to the Med in an effort to attract tourists. Travel Vision’s Classics

of Turkey is a 10-night trip from R7 550pps with departures in November, early December, January, February and March. The land-only package visits Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Kusadasi, Pergamum, Troy, Canakkale and Gallipoli, ending in Istanbul. Four-star accommodation on a half-board basis, luxury coach travel and guided sightseeing are included.

Trafalgar’s 10-day Greek Island Explorer is priced from R22 750pps (R2 025 per day). It starts in Athens and visits Mykonos and Santorini. Discounts, such as

past guest savings, triple room sharing, multiple trip, young travellers and solo travellers, may apply, as does a small-group discount for groups of five to 15 people that is combinable with other discounts.

From the Robinson Club come some Portugal specials for 2017 that must be booked by the end of November. A 20% saving is offered on the four-star Robinson Club Quinta

da Ria in the Algarve. Between April 23 and June 3, seven nights’

accommodation in an economy double

room costs

R10 660pp (formerly R13 022) on an all-inclusive basis. From July 9-August 29 the same package sells for R13 350pp (previously R16 422). Excludes flights.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is offering Mediterranean cruises between June and October, 2017 on the Seven Seas Voyager – the 10-night Venice to Monte Carlo; the seven-night Monte Carlo to Barcelona; the seven-night Monte Carlo to Rome; the seven-night Barcelona to Rome and the seven-night Venice to Athens. Fares, from US$3 899pp (R54 463), cover unlimited shore excursions and a night’s pre-cruise accommodation in a luxury hotel, and all the inclusions one would expect on a luxury cruise liner.

Newsflash

LUX* Resorts and Hotels will open a new five-star boutique hotel, LUX* Bodrum, Turkey, in May 2017. The hotel’s 66 rooms include one King suite, eight Deluxe rooms and one Comfort room. It also features nine Terrace flats and ten four-bedroom Garden duplexes – eight with a pool and the remaining two without. Facilities include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, private docking for yachts, an Equilibria Gym and Wellness centre, a PLAY Kids’ Club, 100m of coastline and 45m of private beach.

The Med &


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GREEK ISLAND EXPLORER10 days from R2450 per day

Start your Aegean adventure in ancient Athens before settling into laid-back island life on vibrant Mykonos and Santorini's dramatic volcanic landscape, where you will have days to explore their secret coves, tiny cobbled streets and seaside cafés.

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VISIT WWW.COSTSAVER.TRAFALGAR.COMOR CALL 011 280 84

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Turkey offers good value for money TURKEY’s security concerns should be kept in perspective, suggest industry stakeholders.

Club Travel md, Wally Gaynor, when asked for his opinion on Turkey and its current problems, speculated on whether, statistically, South Africans were more likely to be maimed or killed in Turkey or in violent crime-ridden South Africa. “Personally, I would rather take my chances in Turkey or

anywhere in the Mediterranean.”

On the upside for those considering travel to Turkey, is that the value of the lira has fallen as much as the rand. “It’s a wonderful destination, offering amazing value for money, and it’s got everything that South Africans

look for – shopping, culture, beaches, interesting ancient sites, cruising and more,” Wally said. He said the tourism industry

had recovered slowly after the recent bombing incidents and attempted coup, and tourist spots like Sultanahmet and Taksim in Istanbul were full of tourists.

And if travellers are concerned about popular tourist spots being targeted, there are other spots they can visit. “There are lots of spots less frequented by mainstream tourists like Princes’ Islands, a short ferry ride away,” he commented.

Kenan Ince, Turkish Airlines gm based in Cape Town, said there had been a notable increase in security measures in Istanbul to ensure the safety of citizens and visitors. Thompsons Holidays’ John Ridler said: “Travellers seem to regard Turkey as quite safe after the coup attempt, with heightened security around the country.”

Kenan said resorts on the Mediterranean coast, where most holidaymakers were found, had been only slightly affected due to their distance from the main cities. Beyond Istanbul, he said coastal resorts like Bodrum, Antalya and Fethiye were operating with no disruption. Bodrum, he said,

was considered one of the most spectacular stops on the Aegean shoreline, with many cultural attractions and pristine beaches. The cuisine in the old town is a mix of cosmopolitan and authentic restaurants, catering for all palates.

“Antalya is a destination you don’t want to skip. The ancient city lays claim to arguably one of the most scenic marinas in the world, as well as some of the finest beaches in the Mediterranean region. Boat trips come highly recommended, to take in the natural beauty from another angle,” said Kenan.

Wally highlighted Cappadocia, in central Turkey, and Izmir and other destinations on the coast as places to include in a holiday. “There is even skiing in Turkey in winter; it’s an all-year destination.”

Trafalgar’s Turkey programme includes: Highlights of Turkey, priced

at R17 950pps for eight days, explores Istanbul, Gallipoli, Canakkale, Troy, Pergamon, Izmir, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Hierapolis and Bursa. It includes accommodation with buffet breakfast daily, a Be My

Guest lunch and the usual Trafalgar inclusions.

Best of Turkey, priced at R26 850pps for 14 days, visits Istanbul, Gallipoli, Canakkale, Troy, Pergamon, Izmir, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara. It includes a stay in the Dilek Kaya Hotel, which is crafted out of rock formations, a Be My Guest lunch, breakfast daily and 10 dinners.

Secrets of Turkey, from R37 200pps, includes a four-day cruise along the Turquoise Coast, and visits Istanbul, Gallipoli, Canakkale, Troy, Pergamon, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Marmaris, Kalkan, Antalya, Konya and Cappadocia. Accommodation with breakfast daily, five lunches (including a Be My Guest lunch) and eight dinners are included.

Wonders of Turkey by CostSaver at R15 050pps (or R1 368 per day) for an 11-day trip that takes in Istanbul, Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, Pamukkale, Izmir and Canakkale. This includes accommodation with breakfast daily and five dinners, sightseeing and the CostSaver inclusions.

Topping the pollsTNW scoured a number of different popular online polls for the top, not-to-be-missed Mediterranean islands, and found multiple listings for the following:Greece: Zakynthos, Santorini, Mykonos, Crete, and Corfu;Spain: Ibiza, Majorca, and Formentera; Italy: Sicily, Capri, and Sardinia;France: Corsica; Cyprus and Malta

THE MED & TURKEY

Kenan Ince

Istanbul's cultural mix stems from its location, where Europe meets Asia. Photo: Pixabay

JOBSCOMMUNITYNEWSBirths, deaths, marriages, promotions – we want to know! Please fax or e-mail TNW’s Taryn Nightingale, at [email protected] or (011) 327 4094.


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TNW’s Natasha Schmidt and husband, Justin, welcomed their beautiful bundle of joy into the world on July 21. Alice is growing quickly and it seems the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Like her mom, she’s shown a keen interest in the travel trade and is pictured with her mommy enjoying last week’s TNW in the garden. Photo: Taryn Nightingale

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New Business Officer – Cape TownLee Botti & AssociatesCBD. Contribute towards operational development for national corporate leader! Proven KAM and sales experience will be rewarded! Salary R30 000. Email: [email protected]

Payroll Team Leader – Johannesburg NorthEquity Connections ccRun monthly payroll, 3rd party payments, GL, payroll reconciliations and more. Senior position for highly skilled VIP Payroll expert. Email: [email protected]

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Thompsons Holidays hosted a golf day for clients and trade suppliers on September 8 at Randpark Golf Club. All golfers had a great afternoon on the course and the day ended with supper and prizes from the suppliers. Pictured here are (from left): Warren Griselle, team leader of Flight Centre; Paula de Caires, Thompsons for Travel; Jackie Adami and Jonathan Hollard, TCA Abu Dhabi; and Robin Hilton, Etihad Airways.

Tee-off with Thompsons

Sure Travel’s newest agency, Sure Ukhanye Travels in Mthatha Eastern Cape, officially celebrated becoming a member of the Sure Travel group with a grand launch on October 7 at the Garden Court Mthatha. The glittering evening function was attended by government officials, key community members and VIPs. Pictured here celebrating the agency’s membership are (from left): Vanya Lessing, Sure Travel ceo; Nomnikelo Fadane, director Sure Ukhanye Travels; and Mandy Jordaan, Sure Travel commercial and business solutions manager.

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TNW NEWS

I wish I didn’t have to do…Which part of your job do you wish you could hire someone else to do?

29%27%

19%

13%

8%

2% 2%

Last-minute booking changes Visas Dealing with upset clients Invoicing Quoting Booking and issuing

air tickets Sorting through queues

SAA trade contracts – finally commissions and this has been negatively affecting agents’ cash flow.

Allan says for a large group like BidTravel, the impact

can easily be mitigated, but smaller groups are finding it very difficult to operate under the current circumstances.

But, Marco Ciocchetti, ceo XL Travel, says he doesn’t

believe there is a reason for concern. “No airline can survive without fairly remunerating its sales force.”

SAA chose not to comment on the issue.

From page 1

New SAA ceoMeanwhile, spokesperson for SAA, Tlali Tlali, told TNW that the process of appointing a new ceo for the airline had commenced. “We previously sent a list of three names to

the shareholders for consideration and we are now left with two as one of the candidates who had been recommended has become unavailable. Within four months from

now, we anticipate that a list of candidates recommended for possible appointment will have been put together and be sent to the shareholder for final decision.”

Austria Connection has released its 2017 Amadeus River Cruises brochure, which includes info on the new ship, Amadeus Provence, which will be introduced from April, and details on a new route, the Three Rivers cruise, which sails from Amsterdam to Nuremberg. Although the brochure for Central and Eastern Europe is not yet out, all Austria Connection’s products for 2017, including coach tours, cycling tours and cruises in Croatia, are already available on the tour operator’s website: www.austriaconnection.co.za. Website features include day-by-day itineraries, exact prices and calendars for river cruises and coach tours. Pictured here are Inge and Peter Dobihal, owners of Austria Connection. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl

Get it online!

Harvey World launches ITCLeigh hermon

HARVEY World Travel is set to take on the world of ITCs with its own

model, which launched on November 1.

Marco Cristofoli, md of Harvey World Travel South Africa, says the group saw a need for its own ITC as a means of retaining experienced agents and growing its business.

Unwilling to divulge too much on the model’s specifics, Marco says agents will have access to the full suite of tools needed to run and manage their own travel

businesses, including the ITC platform, ticketing and technical support. Through the BidTravel group, Harvey World aims to offer ITCs networking opportunities and access to special fares and volume deals.

The group will assess each applicant individually and those who wish to apply will need to set up an appointment to be considered.

There’s no sign-up fee but successful candidates will have to pay a monthly fee. There will also be a revenue split based on the volumes generated by the

ITC. Currently, agents will fall under Harvey World’s Iata bond but will not have to contribute to the guarantee. However Marco says this may change in the future.

He says the group’s ideal ITC is someone who is proactive, a “thought leader” and entrepreneur who has a hands-on approach. “We are not after volumes in terms of ITCs. We’ll leave that to our competitors.” He hopes that with a model comprising fewer ITCs, the group will be able to offer travel agents a tailor-made service that helps to grow their business and Harvey World business.

Agents still not sold on DIPDebbie baDham

AGENTS are still not buying into the benefits of entering the Default Insurance Product (DIP) scheme, despite an indefinite reprieve from having to post a guarantee to enter the scheme. As a result, uptake of the product has been surprisingly slow, industry authorities say.

TNW last reported that insurer of the DIP, Jack and Seach, had announced concessions for agents wanting to join the scheme (see TNW, May 18). At the time, the facilitator of the scheme said this was to counter the effect of potential confusion as a result of the quick roll-out of the DIP.

“Although more agents have signed up for the scheme, we need to see more big agencies come in,” says Ian Snowball of Bastion Reinsurance Brokerage, which facilitates the scheme.

The policy is up for renewal in March. Ian says the long-term goal would be to get the entire market on board so that any agency would be able to enter the scheme without paying a guarantee for whatever amount they are trading.

Ceo of Asata, Otto de Vries, says the relatively slow uptake of the DIP is primarily due to lack of understanding of the product and its benefits.

Dinesh Naidoo, group operations director of Serendipity Worldwide Group, says he is surprised more agencies haven’t entered the scheme. “It opens up your cash flow and there is no risk because you are covered by policy. Even with a guarantee, there is the doubt that it may be insufficient.” He says when paying per ticket, agents are also able to budget for the additional cost by passing on that cost to their clients.

However, other industry

players say that the DIP may not always be an agency’s best option.

Mladen Lukic, gm of Travel Counsellors South Africa, says the pros and cons of entering the DIP scheme would differ depending on the agency in question’s BSP size and the strength of its cash flow.

Franz Von Wielligh, gm of Flight Specials, says especially where agents are working on tight margins – as with government accounts where service fees paid to agents are being reduced – the R11 DIP cost per ticket has an impact on the bottom line.

He says, however, that Iata is re-evaluating guarantees at the end of the financial year that might see a spike in DIP uptake once again.

Jack & Seach, which administers the DIP, will join Asata on November 4 for a webinar for agents who are interested in learning more.

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