SPAA'S ACTIVE AUTUMN PROGRAMME
STOP PRESS ... FOR MORE GOLF DAY PICTURES - VISIT THE GALLERY!!
Fresh back from my Summer holiday, and I can’t believe that September is nearly here! It will bring a full schedule of meetings and events - starting with an SPAA / ABTA dinner at Holyrood, 8th September in conjunction with ABTA. We’ll discuss transport and the infrastructure in Scotland with MSPs, airlines and tour operators, and I’ll report back fully to Members in due course.
Tuesday 14th September brings another Autumn Lunch (in the Glasgow Marriott) – a chance for Members and Associates to get together and network. This year, though, it’ll be much more! We’ll be inviting Members would to participate in a vitally important Seminar – (agreed title), during which Michelle Murray (General Manager of the Regions for British Airways) will spell out review BA’s approach to the regions – its strategy on connecting services and their operation, and the challenges both bring.
Of course, airports also remain a hot topic - SPAA Council has meetings scheduled with both Edinburgh and Glasgow Airports soon – and meanwhile we’ve invited representatives of both (together with Aberdeen) to join the Seminar, to review current developments and sketch their plans for the future. So, a valuable opportunity to listen; ask questions and voice your opinion on Scotland’s vital air links! For now, let’s hope the potential strike action at BAA Scotland airports is averted. We have surely had more than enough disruption this year already?
The collapse of Tour Operators is a very worrying trend – particularly at this time of year – adding as it does to the workload of Members, who have to spend more time re-assuring clients and finding alternative holidays for them, and/or deal with the seemingly endless claims paperwork demanded by the CAA. Council is, as always, keeping a close eye on developments. We’re also keeping a close eye on the developing situation with the Government’s planned APD increases, and we have already expressed our disappointment to them over their response to the recent Petition – 14,000 people arguing against the hikes!
You’ll know that we recently conducted our first Member survey. Many thanks if you completed it, and we’ll report on the results during the Autumn Seminar. Pleased as we were with the level of response, and its quality, we really do need your input, so, do watch for the next one - which will be leisure-focused - and take a couple of minutes to respond!
The ever-popular SPAA Travel Awards will shortly be on sale – mark your calendar for the 4th November in the Glasgow Hilton, and watch out for your voting form. There’ll be a new Travel Agent category this year, joining Best Leisure Agent – that is, Best Business Travel Agent!
Visit www.spaa.org / Diary for full details of upcoming meetings and events, and for more information contact SPAA Secretary Janice Hogarth at jhogarth@spaa.org.
Scottish Passenger Agents' Association
