Organisations & Operators News Page 33

Caribbean Tourism Organisation launches regional skills audit
A Jamaican firm has been selected by the regional tourism development agency, the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, to conduct its first-ever regional skills audit to assess the competencies of the regional tourism workforce.

Jet2.com pushes restart back into June
“We have taken time to study the Global Travel Taskforce’s framework, and we are extremely disappointed at the lack of clarity and detail,” said Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com.

TUI Group to raise €350m in fresh capital
TUI Group has revealed plans to raise at least €350 million in fresh funding as the company seeks to whether the ongoing impact from the Covid-19 pandemic. The new bonds will fall due in 2028.

Roach departs Barbados Tourism Marketing after two decades
After nearly two decades with the organisation, industry veteran Petra Roach is leaving to take up a new opportunity with the Grenada Tourist Board later this year.

ABTA critical of government support for travel agents
ABTA has written to officials at the department for business, energy and industrial strategy (BEIS) to protest at levels of grant support being made available to the retail travel industry in England.

IATA: Aviation sector continues to deteriorate
The International Air Transport Association has found that passenger traffic fell in February, both compared to pre-Covid-19 levels in February 2019, and to the immediate month prior, January this year.

WTTC finds UK tourism suffered £148bn loss in 2020
The annual Economic Impact Report from the World Travel & Tourism Council reveals that the dramatic collapse of the sector in the UK has wiped out a staggering £148 billion from the economy.

Slump in ATOL licence renewals in March
The UK Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that, of the 742 ATOL licences that expired in March, 554 have been renewed. A further 89 still in the process.

TUI UK adds thousands of trips for summer 2022
Customers will have an additional 1,500 hotels to choose from in 62 favourite hotspots, giving more choice for their long-awaited break, whether they prefer a short, mid, or long-haul getaway.

Three new members for ABTA board
Ruth Marshall, managing director of RCL Cruises; Garry Wilson, chief executive of easyJet Holidays; and Andrew Flintham, managing director of TUI Northern Region, will all take up new seats.

ABTA reports increase in package holiday demand
New research from ABTA, which represents the interests of travel agents, has found a growing trend for holidaymakers seeking the security of booking a package holiday with a travel professional.

UKinbound calls for risk-based framework for tourism reopening
UKinbound has presented the government with three key critical asks ahead of the prime minister’s expected announcement on the re-opening of international travel, due in April.