| 14th September, 2000
Since the start of the petrol crisis and Thursday morning's announcement
that the refinery blockades were to be lifted, member companies of the
Hotel Booking Agents Association (HBAA) reported a dramatic daily increase
in both reservations and cancellations.
Although provincial hotels were hit hardest, the demand for city centre
hotels by companies wishing to ensure that key staff could get to work
offset the cancellations for those that could not travel. In a few instances
this even caused some problems with short term availability in major city
centres.
| Some conferences were cancelled immediately,
but as travelling became more and more difficult, more were reduced in
numbers and now the HBAA fear that many more will be cancelled. Particularly
those scheduled for this weekend or early next week. Mike Thirkettle,
the HBAA's Chairman, said that all its member companies reported a marked
down turn in advance bookings.
Almost all HBAA members also reported staffing difficulties with those
located in the worst hit parts of the country having to cope with 50% more
transactions with up to 40% less staff.
Mike Thirkettle does not expect things to return to normal until a few
days after petrol supplies are totally reinstated.
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What is the HBAA?
The Hotel Booking Agents Association was formed in 1997.
The members are all independent, well established companies that specialise
in making hotel accommodation and conference or
function reservations as their core business. Our
members have many years of experience which you can draw on. The
HBAA has over 30 members in 1999 who book over £400 million worth
of hotel reservations a year. Their specialist knowledge and
buying power ensures they are a very important and unique aspect of the
overall travel industry.
The HBAA act as a united forum to address common
issues, and to push for improved standards in product and service delivery
by our suppliers - the hotel industry - for our corporate clients.
In turn we ensure that our members abide by agreed standards in dealing
with clients and suppliers alike. |
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"As soon company executives can travel, they'll have a good deal of catching
up to do." said Mike Thirkettle, who added "So we expect to see a lot of
reservation activity over the next week or two."
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