February 21 2018 I No. 2482 SOUTHERN AFRICA’S TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY TNW8554SD NEWS REPORT FEATURE B-BBEE NON-COMPLIANCE PCI DSS FAMILY TRAVEL Commission cracks the whip The road to compliance All the latest trends INSIDE Page 2 Page 10 Page 11 Conversions drive record sales at FCTG Travel Expo SARAH ROBERTSON AND TEssA REED revealing better conversions Honeymooners, couples and across the board, according to families were the big buyers at ALES for the Flight Centre FCTG Middle East and Africa this year’s show, said Lesley Travel Group’s (FCTG) md, Andrew Stark. Smith, sales manager at WLH. S8th annual Travel Expo, Andrew said he was filled She said matriculants were held recently in Johannesburg, with positivity following this also among the buyers, looking showed a 25% increase weekend’s expo. “The change to buy holidays before starting compared with 2017 figures, in outlook is palpably different their tertiary studies. Like despite having roughly the compared with last year. The Andrew, she said demand same attendance. strong rand and the possibility was high. “Our stand was Over 22 000 people attended of political change have busy from start to finish on the travel expo again this year, given South African travellers both days.” interacting with over 150 Flight renewed energy and optimism, André Dafel, national sales Centre preferred exhibitors. which is reflected in their manager – trade at Club The top selling destinations willingness to commit to travel Med, said there was high Here’s to 2018! for the event were South bookings. While this time last demand for snow holiday Africa, Mauritius, Thailand and year immigration fare enquiries favourites such as Val Thorens Thirsty’s kicked off with a bang this year, with the first Australia. were common requests, this Sensations and their newly event taking place at City Lodge Sandton. Having a Previously the show was free year we saw a number of launched Grand Massif ski laugh are Mirriam Mwale, SA Express and Margaret but the group introduced a families commit to securing resorts. They also saw a sharp Mpengula, City Lodge Hotel Group. See more pictures R50 entrance fee for the first holidays in excess of increase in families looking for on page 6. Photo: Shannon Van Zyl. time this year with the results R300 000 on the day…” To page 2 ‘Predatory’ SA Airlink could face Amex to buy HRG AMERICAN Express Global further information in this massive penalty Business Travel has regard, citing tight regulations announced its intention concerning listed companies. THE South African Competition Allegations lodged by the Airlink had contravened the to acquire Hogg Robinson However, at least a partial Commission has referred SA aggrieved parties’ claim Competition Act by abusing its Group (HRG). The acquisition merger seems likely. Airlink to the Competition that SA Airlink’s prices were dominance from September is conditional on receipt of An announcement of the Tribunal for prosecution. This excessive before Fly Blue 2012 to August 2016, and antitrust and other regulatory deal said the acquisition is on charges of ‘excessive Crane entered the route, and that its exorbitant pricing was approvals and is expected to would “create a world-class and predatory pricing’ following were lowered to below cost to the detriment of travellers close in the second quarter of organisation, using the best complaints lodged by low- subsequent to Fly Blue Crane’s who would have saved the year. available talent from both Hogg cost carrier Fly Blue Crane, entry. Upon Fly Blue Crane between R89m and R108m. It is unclear whether this Robinson and GBT”. businessman Khwezi Tiya, exiting the route, SA Airlink “The predatory pricing deal will result in a merger, TNW could not get clarity and the OR Tambo District allegedly resumed its initial conduct of SA Airlink or whether both companies from either of the local Chamber of Business between costing. contributed to the exit of Fly will be run as separate companies on how the 2015 and 2017, regarding the The investigation that Blue Crane, and the effect of entities. Neither of the acquisition will play out in the Johannesburg-Mthatha route. followed found that SA To page 2 global groups would provide South African market. TNW8562SDa NEWS FCTG Travel Expo B-BBEE Commission to crack From page 1 greatly improved conversion real all-inclusive packages and rates for both FCTG and its new experiences specifically suppliers. the whip on non-compliance on beach destinations like, The group also launched a CANDICE MAY of cases under investigation these companies for fear that Mauritius, Bali, Bintan Island Travel Stokvel concept at the until they were finalised, but their own BEE requirements and Kani. It also came as no expo this year as an initiative RAVEL is one of the said the findings of concluded will be affected, Marco surprise that the top months to stimulate the spirit of travel industries under the cases would be disclosed. Ciocchetti, ceo of XL Travel for travel requests were among South Africans who Tscrutiny of the Broad- Players in the industry points out. December and January. may not have been able to Based Black Economic support the need for economic Mary Shilleto, ceo of Andrew said the additional travel previously. Empowerment (B-BBEE) transformation. Thompsons Travel, says R1 million that the expo Lance Nkwe, FCTG Commission. Andrew Stark, md for MEA if industry players are entrance fees had brought in marketing manager – Bongani Lukhele, head of Flight Centre Travel Group, truly committed to the this year were not considered Emerging Market, said that of media relations of the says not being compliant in empowerment of young people an additional revenue stream, aspiring travellers could create Department of Trade and this day and age is simply not who have studied travel, as the expo cost about eight their own Stokvel group to Industry, says the commission forward thinking. “Companies mentoring and partnering times as much to host. While contribute toward their dream will investigate probable that are non-compliant have with them is an obligation. he conceded that the entrance holiday. issues of non-compliance very little chance of growing “We cannot transform our fee revenue had helped to “By participating in the within the travel industry, their business in markets of industry in any shape or form offset some of these costs, Stokvel, members receive in the coming months. the future.” if we do not actively make a he said the real benefit of the expert travel advice, as well Busisiwe Ngwenya, director Another problem with commitment to spend time fee was the non-stop stream as exclusive discounts and of compliance of the B-BBEE companies that are not and money on training and of good quality customers who promotions not available to Commission, would not compliant is that nobody upskilling the newcomers in attended this year and the other customers.” disclose the number or details wants to do business with the market.” Rubes® By Leigh Rubin Wendy returns to kulula holidays SARAH ROBERTSON area of product specialisation department WENDY Goutier has since. and, most been appointed product Wendy is recently manager for Far East probably best served as and Mauritius at kulula known for her gm for tour holidays, leaving Dreams lengthy tenure operator, to take on her new as product Dreams. position. manager for Jana King, After starting her travel Thompsons gm of the career at Holiday Tours, Holidays, where Songhai now kulula holidays, she spent Group, of Wendy has gone full circle four years which Dreams in her career. She joined overseeing is a part, the company’s finance the Mauritius Wendy Goutier wished Wendy department in 1989 portfolio and five years all the best for her future before moving across to as the Far East product endeavours, saying that the product department, manager. She also worked she had been a great part which has been her in the World Leisure of their team. Visa ‘scammer’ reappears A SUSPECTED visa scammer time for her holiday. Alliance Immigration, and Eternity just got a little longer. has been ‘arranging’ visas However, Charles never has registered another visa once again for SA travellers, returned the passport to the company website, although the industry players have reported. client. She never heard from website is no longer active. In September 2014, TNW him again and was forced to One disgruntled client posted Founding Editors: reported the case of a traveller cancel her trip to Morocco, a complaint on Hellopeter John H Marsh (1914-1996) Leona Marsh (1923-2003) who claimed she had been incurring cancellation charges in August last year stating: scammed by VCS Group, and penalties. “My employee went to this EDITORIAL TRAVEL NEWS WEEKLY also trading as Visalogik. Although a criminal charge company in Pretoria to get Editor: Tessa Reed [email protected] www.etnw.co.za She asked VCS to handle her was laid against Charles, a work permit for SA. The Features Editor: Michelle Colman [email protected] application for a Moroccan TNW understands SAPS never whole business is a scam and Published by Publisher: Natasha Schmidt [email protected] Travel & Trade Publishing (Pty) Ltd visa and contacted Charles arrested him. Industry players Charles Jelliman has ducked Journalists: Printed by Juka Printing (Pty) Ltd Jelliman, owner of the have now reported that he with my employee’s money Dorine Reinstein Candice May Phone: (011) 327-4062 Sarah Robertson Hilka Birns companies, who assured her is selling visas once again, and her documents. Please be Fax: (011) 327-4094 he would arrange the visa in under the company name aware!” E-mail: [email protected] Photographer: Shannon Van Zyl Web: www.nowmedia.co.za Production Editor: Ann Braun Address: Now Media Centre, 32 Fricker Road, Illovo Boulevard, GROUP PUBLISHER ‘Predatory’ SA Airlink Illovo, Johannesburg.