"Dream the Dream..."

With most of the local travel news focusing on the fall out from the cessation of Goldtrail Travel, the Farnborough air show is running the risk of passing almost unnoticed...

But this show has some positive news for travellers and the travel industry alike, not for the unveiling of the Airbus 400 transporter (although it is an amazing plane), but instead for the long awaited introduction to the "all new" Boeing 787 Dreamliner...

But why is this so important? Not only is this "new breed" of aircraft lighter and more efficient (allowing it to travel longer and further) but the first one to be bought is by TUI, showing that Europe's main package holiday supplier has faith that people will ignore the current economic situation to continue booking their services...

Travelmole reports that "Dubbed “the limousine of the skies”, the plane offers passengers more space, wider aisles and seats and a smoother and quieter flight. It is also highly fuel-efficient. Windows are much bigger than on regular passenger jets and there is a LED lighting system which mimics sunrise and sunset to help passengers acclimatise to new time zones...

TUI is to take delivery of the 787 this year and will be the first UK airline to fly the plane. The lighter plane can cover longer distances in one go and TUI has predicted boosts in interest to destinations such as Borneo, Bali, Hawaii and Mauritius...

British Airways, meanwhile, has ordered 24 of the new aircraft which will join its long haul fleet from 2012. It said its design team is already working on developing the 787’s interior which will have a premium feel throughout the cabin..."

Positivity in a week of "Doom and Gloom" I'm sure you will agree...

Read more at

Barticus..

"A handy Russian Billionaire..."

Breaking news today of the tie up between TUI and Russian tycoon Alexei Mordashov to ease the brand into the ever growing Russian marketplace...

Breakingtravelnews.com report that TUI AG has confirmed it will move into the Russian travel market, as a part of a new $60 million joint venture with billionaire Alexei Mordashov.

In partnership with Mr Mordashov’s S-Group, the German travel giant will establish 200 owned and franchised travel agencies in Russia and Ukraine over the next three years.

The venture will control up to ten per cent of the Russian travel market by 2013, according to TUI, with over twenty holiday destinations on offer.

Destinations on offer will include trips to Cyprus, a first for the Russian market.

“Today, Russia is one of the top growth markets for travel,” explained Michael Frenzel, TUI’s chief executive officer.

“Russian consumers are becoming more and more sophisticated and selective.”

TUI AG expects Russia to become Europe’s fourth-largest travel market by 2020, Mr Frenzel confirmed..."

It is good to see that despite the global financial crisis, it is still possible to keep developing within the tourism industry, and to keep looking for a brighter future...

For more on this story, please go to http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/tui-expands-into-russia-with-joint-venture/

Barticus.

"What depression??..."

With so many of the smaller travel agents and businesses within the tourism sector showing substantial sufferings during today's economic times, it is with some amount of interest that we see how Europe's largest travel agent, TUI is bucking the trend...

TUI Travel has recorded a 15% rise in annual profits – beating rival Thomas Cook which yesterday reported flat profit levels...

Europe’s largest tour operating group saw pre-tax profits rise to £366 million for the year to September 30, up from £319 the previous 12 months...

TUI said winter business continues to improve across all source markets while summer 2010 trading in the UK “remains encouraging” with average selling prices up by seven per cent year on year...

So what is the secret of it's success where so many others seem doomed to fail? The answer seems to be (as well as the growth in winter sales) the fact that people are still, despite the financial forecasts, taking their main family holidays, treating it (as we have shown with the works of Tourism Concern and The Family Holiday Association) as a social right...

Interesting...

For more on this please follow http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1139727.php

Barticus.

Don't do it! Don't jump!..."

In an age where so many of the smaller (and even some of the big for that matter) tourism companies are seriously suffering from the economic downturn, it is sad to hear news that the "Mark Warner" holiday company is the latest to be tempted with a corporate buy-out...

A small company that started in 1974, it has always given that personal touch and never giving in to modern technologies (such as on-line bookings) has always helped to keep it's distance from the multi national "super" integrated tourism companies...

The privately-owned upmarket family operator, founded by Mark Chitty and Don Searle (who still own it), are said to be considering a sale due to the downturn...

With both Thomas Cook and TUI Travel waiting in the wings for the moment of submission, we have to wonder if it is the end for Mark Warner Holidays..

Read more at http://www.ttglive.com/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=3208370&CMPI_SHARED_articleId=3265260&CMPI_SHARED_ImageArticleId=3265260&CMPI_SHARED_articleIdRelated=3265260&CMPI_SHARED_ToolsArticleId=3265260&CMPI_SHARED_CommentArticleId=3265260&articleTitle=Potential%20Mark%20Warner%20bidders%20revealed

Barticus.