Air Passenger Duty Back On The Agenda

MPs have called for the Government to review the impact of APD on the economy and expand Heathrow rather than building a new Thames Estuary airport.

A new House of Commons Transport Select Committee report has recommended studying the impact of APD and exploring the possibility of different rates.

It has also recommended rejecting the new Thames airport, dubbed 'Boris Island' due to being backed by Mayor of London Boris Johnson, saying it would be hugely expensive.

Instead the all-party group of MPs urged the Government to expand Heathrow to three or even four runways.

Committee chairwoman Louise Ellman MP said: "Research we commissioned made plain that building an entirely new hub airport east of London could not be done without huge public investment in new ground transport infrastructure.

Ron Haylock - Sad News

It is with deep regret that we have learnt of the sudden death of industry veteran Ron Haylock. Ron passed away on Tuesday.

I have met and worked with Ron on many occasions over the years and he was always a warm friendly personality but together with this his passion and commitment to the timeshare industry was both genuine and immense.

Ron has had a long and varied career. Over the years he has held the position of MD of RCI and played a key in creating the current trade body, RDO, working hard to change the structure of the European Timeshare Federation into the current model that exists today. 

He subsequently become chairman of RDO (then OTE) and many will remember him for his positive attitude, his sense of humour and his drive to bring about a change for good.

Ron was also extremely active outside of the timeshare industry and became non-executive director of a number of travel companies in the UK including Hoseasons Holidays and Holiday Autos. For a number of years he was also Chairman of the governing Council of the University of Nottingham in the UK.

More recently, Ron became involved in the Christel House charity, which educates children from very deprived backgrounds in South Africa, India, Mexico and Venezuela and he worked tirelessly to promote the charity.

 

TATOC Consumer Helpline Cold Caller List April 2013

TATOC's Consumer Helpline has released it's monthly update of companies who have been reported to them by concerned timeshare owners as having been engaged in cold calling.

Our advice will always be that if you are approached by any company with whom you have not initiated that contact, the safety thing to do is to not have any involvement with them, do not pay them any money and do not agree to any sort of face to face meeting.

TATOC Announces Launch of Ambassador Programme

The Timeshare Association (Timeshare Owners and Committees), TATOC, is delighted to announce the launch of the TATOC Ambassador Programme and the appointment of Mike Ashton as chief Ambassador.

The Ambassador Programme, which was unveiled at the recent TATOC Conference, will play an important role in the realisation of the updated TATOC Five Year Plan.

In the Plan, TATOC announced its intentions to increase resort membership and company affiliation, identify new revenue streams and promote the activities of the Association to the wider industry.

It is believed that the Ambassador Programme is the most effective, efficient and resourceful way to undertake this.

Lakeview Country Club Take Over

TATOC member resort Lakeview Country Club has been taken over by a new company which plans to invest £20 million into the complex.

The leisure and holiday facility at Lanivet has been acquired from previous owners Club Domaine and will be headed up by chief executive Andy Thomson, who said Lakeview would be undergoing a total revamp. The sale was completed on 5th April 2013.

Mr Thomson's company, Lakeview Country Club Ltd, will be working with Kent-based construction and property specialists Calfordseaden to develop new villas and holiday lodges at Lakeview, but he said the first priority was to improve the current facilities.