Latest news with #SteveHeapy
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Holiday islands face summer of chaos as hotel staff plan mass walk-out
Thousands of hotel, bar and restaurant staff are planning industrial action in the Balearics. The UGT union says there will be a mass walkout on June 6 followed by several days of strike action in July, the height of the busy tourist season Chaos is due to befall hotels Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca as workers prepare to strike. The holiday islands could face significant disruption in June and July as thousands of hospitality workers plan further strike action. Unless a last-minute agreement is reached, a mass walk-out is planned for June 6, followed by several days of strikes in July, during the height of the tourist season. The UGT workers' union has warned strikes are nearing as no progress is being made regarding their demands for improved pay and conditions. The union warns the industrial actions will greatly affect holidaymakers and urges hotels to do everything possible to prevent it. "If we don't see the possibility of an agreement in principle, we will call a strike lasting several days," declared the general secretary of its Services federation on the islands. The union has made it clear that their goal is to exert maximum impact on tourists. At the same time, overtourism protests are due to break out across major resort cities. They include plans to occupy beaches and super-glue apartment locks. Protests are set to take place in Platja de Palma and Palmanova-Magaluf. The UGT, the largest union in the sector, is playing a key role in negotiating the Collective Agreement of the Balearic hotel industry. A strike involving thousands of hotel workers, including restaurant and bar staff and cleaners, already took place on May 1. On June 6, the first of the new protests will occur outside the headquarters of the Mallorca hotel federation. Demonstrations are scheduled for the end of June in Platja de Palma and Palmanova-Magaluf, with the peak planned for July, featuring several days of strikes over alternate weeks. On June 6, a protest is planned for 10am at the UGT office in Palma. Following the update on negotiation progress, attendees will hold a midday rally outside the Mallorcan Hotel Federation building. Another demonstration is set to take place at Platja de Palma at the end of next month, with a worker's march culminating in a rally in front of the local hotel association headquarters. A similar protest will target the Palmanova-Magaluf area, highlighting the workers' unrest in key tourist hubs around the Bay of Palma. The unions are fighting for adequate housing and addressing issues such as tourist overpopulation without life quality improvements for workers, increased job demands, salaries not matching living costs, and pay inequality for identical work. The union wants wages to rise by 19 per cent across the three years to 2027, while the offer from employers flags at 8.5 percent. In other recent protest news, the CEO of Jet2 Steve Heapy expressed fears that tourist levies could rise in response to overtourism protests in Spain, which have been rumbling on for years and are due to disrupt key destinations this summer. The CEO told a roundtable event at the Spanish embassy in London that he opposed tourist taxes, but feared rises would prove 'irresistible'.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Jet2 announce major change to transfer services for millions of passengers
The holiday company announced customers will be able to access technology for real time updayes Jet2holidays has become the first UK tour operator to introduce real time updates for passengers being transferred back to the airport after their holiday. The new service, called Live Transfer Status, will allow customers to track their coach transfer to their departure airport. It will mean those holidaymakers waiting at hotels and apartments for their transfer coach will be able to see where their driver is in real time. Jet2 hopes it will give their customers added reassurance and reduce calls to their customer information lines. Live Transfer Status will be available for all passengers taking a coach transfer back to their departure airport. And the service will be available for destinations in the Balearics, Canaries, Mainland Spain, Morocco, Turkey and Bulgaria. Customers can access the service via its app and it will provide them with pick up location, expected pick up time and updates if there are delays. They will also be able to see where the coach is at any given time and the driver's name as well as the vehicle licence plate number. The information will be available from 30 minutes before their departure pick up time. Passengers will be alerted via a Live Transfer Status beacon which will flash on the app. They then simply click it to view the information in real-time. Jet2 started to roll out the technology this month and said they have already seen a significant reduction in call volumes. Customers phoning to find out where there transfer coach is is one of the biggest call drivers across the travel industry. At the moment, Live Transfer Status is not available in Greece. But the company says they hope more destinations will be included for summer 2026. Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2holidays said: 'With millions of customers travelling on hundreds of thousands of coach transfers with Jet2holidays every year, our pioneering Live Transfer functionality is a real game-changer for us and for our customers. "By providing customers with more real-time information about their coach transfer to the departure airport it means a hassle-free end to their holidays, which in turn is already resulting in far fewer calls to our contact centre and to our independent travel agent partners. "A lot of hard work has gone into new innovation and we are already receiving outstanding feedback from customers who are telling us how fantastic it is. "This is another significant investment into delivering our VIP customer service, and I would like to thank our key partners and transfer suppliers for their role in its success.' In addition to announcing 'Live Transfer Status' for customers returning to their departure airport, Jet2holidays has also launched new functionality via its app which gives customers coach transfer information, including coach number and parking location, when they arrive into destination.
Scottish Sun
22-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Major airline adds extra flights from Scotland to top European capital destination
Find out when the flights will be heading out Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR airline has announced that extra flights will be heading from Scotland to a top European destination next year. and Jet2CityBreaks are giving rugby fans the opportunity to experience the Six Nations tournament in 2026. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Jet2 has announced extra flights to Rome next year Credit: Getty 3 Additional flights have been put on from five airports across the UK - including Glasgow and Edinburgh Credit: Getty Following the release of the fixtures, the airline added extra flights to the Italian capital of Rome - home to the Stadio Olimpico. Additional flights have been put on from five airports across the UK - including Glasgow and Edinburgh. Scotland are set to play Italy in Rome on Saturday, February 7. From Edinburgh, there will be two additional services to Rome on Thursday, February 5 and Sunday, February 8 perfectly timed for a long weekend in Rome for the fixture. And from Glasgow, there will also be two additional services to Rome on the same dates (February 5 and 8), further enhancing choice on top of an existing schedule which sees departures on Monday and Friday. When travelling to the capital city for a weekend of rugby, holidaymakers can choose from a flight-only booking with or an ATOL protected city break with Jet2CityBreaks, which includes flights, 22kg luggage and accommodation. In addition to watching the Six Nations at one of the best stadiums in Europe, customers can also make the most of the fixtures and enjoy a city break in Italy's capital. With its spectacular history and ancient monuments, including the Colosseum, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain and Sistine Chapel, as well as museums and mouth-watering cuisine, Rome will provide an incredible rugby experience in one of the world's great cities. England are set to play Italy in Rome on Saturday, March 7. Two additional services have been put on Friday, March 6 and Monday, March 9 from Birmingham, Manchester and London Stansted. People thought we were crazy to move our eight-week-old to a crumbling farm in rural Italy but we don't regret a thing Steve Heapy, CEO of and Jet2holidays said: "The Six Nations is a highlight in the sporting calendar, so our flights to Rome for next year's fixtures are proving to be incredibly popular. "We have already seen demand from customers looking to enjoy the sporting action in one of the world's most unforgettable cities, following the publication of the 2026 fixtures this week. "As always, we have responded quickly and put on sale additional capacity to the city, to provide customers and independent travel agents with even more choice. "Rugby fans will want to experience the Six Nations live, and we are offering them the chance to do just that through either a flight with or a city break with Jet2CityBreaks."
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brits heading to Europe warned to budget for 'extra tax' in summer hotspots
Brits are being warned to check before travelling to the likes of France, Italy, Spain and more to avoid being surprised by a common extra cost when they check-in at their hotel Brits planning their summer holidays are being warned to check for additional costs before they head off to their destination. That's because there are plenty of hotspots in the likes of France, Spain and Italy charge a tourist tax, often for every day of your stay. While this isn't usually more than a few euros each day, it's worth noting that it's rarely included in the original cost of your holiday, but rather is paid when you check-in to your hotel. However, a survey from Quotezone revealed that 45% of Brits don't plan for additional expenses on holiday - and so can be caught off-guard when they're asked to pay at reception. Greg Wilson, CEO and travel insurance expert at said: "If you're planning a trip to any city in Europe this year, you must be aware of the potential additional costs to your holiday such as tourist tax – often these extras are not obvious beforehand and normally due for payment when you check out of your accommodation. Tourism taxes range anywhere between less than €1 to almost €15 per night and can be charged per person." Although tourist taxes aren't new, they've been an increasing source of tension in recent years as holiday destinations look to combat overtourism. Just recently, Jet2's CEO Steve Heapy raised concerns that tourist taxes might increase as a result of the over tourism demonstrations in Spain. It comes following protests in hotspots such as Barcelona and the Canary Islands, with locals calling for more restrictions. The Mayor of Salou Pere Granados had previously championed a charge of 84p per day for tourists, explaining at a round table: "The tourists pay tax in the same way as the residents pay taxes. If I come to London, I generate waste." However, Benidorm's mayor Antonio Perez said he was against the tourist tax "because it's stigmatising the visitors as the ones who are preventing me from having a better city or better services". Meanwhile in Italy, in recent years Venice has introduced a tourism tax for 'day trippers', in a bid to combat the crowds that descend upon the city, including during peak cruise holiday seasons. Just last year city officials confirmed they would be increasing the tax for 2025, and even doubling the fee for last-minute holidaymakers. The experts at Quotezone warned: "When budgeting for your trip, it is important to take additional fees and tax into consideration. Recently many countries have actually raised their fees for tourists. Visitors in Paris may find themselves paying up to €14.95 a night – while Venice has introduced a trial for visitors to pay a €5 entry fee to the city during daytime hours, including additional costs for anyone staying in the city overnight. While planning your trip, make sure to research tourist tax in that area so you can be prepared for the additional costs."
Glasgow Times
21-05-2025
- Glasgow Times
Jet2 add flights from Glasgow Airport for 2026 Six Nations
Following the release of the 2026 fixtures this week, the airline and city break specialist has responded swiftly to soaring demand by expanding capacity from five UK airports — including Glasgow — for key match weekends in February and March. For the Italy v Scotland clash on Saturday, February 7 2026, Jet2 will operate two extra flights from Glasgow to Rome, departing on Thursday, February 5 and returning Sunday, February 8. READ MORE: Legendary artist to play Glasgow as 2-for-1 tickets go on sale These services are in addition to their regular Monday and Friday departures, giving fans greater flexibility for a rugby-filled weekend break. Travellers can choose flight-only options with or book a full ATOL-protected package with Jet2CityBreaks, which includes return flights, 22kg baggage allowance, and a choice of central Rome hotels. Jet2 is also adding extra capacity for the Italy v England match on 7 March, offering more fans the chance to enjoy top-tier rugby and explore the Eternal City's iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, and Sistine Chapel. READ MORE: Nearly 70 Glasgow roads to face major restrictions this summer for filming READ MORE: Major roads in Glasgow to close for 17 hours for Tour of Britain cycling final Steve Heapy, CEO of and Jet2holidays said: 'The Six Nations is a highlight in the sporting calendar, so our flights to Rome for next year's fixtures are proving to be incredibly popular. "We have already seen demand from customers looking to enjoy the sporting action in one of the world's most unforgettable cities, following the publication of the 2026 fixtures this week. "As always, we have responded quickly and put on sale additional capacity to the city, to provide customers and independent travel agents with even more choice. "Rugby fans will want to experience the Six Nations live, and we are offering them the chance to do just that through either a flight with or a city break with Jet2CityBreaks.'
