Latest news with #travelbusiness
TTG
13 hours ago
- Business
- TTG
Abta to host conference call with government to help prepare members for new EU border rules
ABTA is working closely with officials in the EU and UK to establish how EES will operate and what it will mean for UK travel businesses and their customers. The conference call will be an opportunity to share that insight with members as they prepare for implementation on 12th October. The 29 countries involved in EES will have the option to adopt a phased approach, building up to being fully operational by 10 April 2026. The call will take place on Tuesday 9th September 2025, between 11am and 12pm. Members can register to attend the call through the link provided in the ABTA MemberZone - EES/ETIAS – information for members | ABTA Luke Petherbridge, Director of Public Affairs at ABTA – The Travel Association said: 'After a false start in autumn last year, the EU has confirmed that EES will start on 12th October, but with a phased approach. We're keen members have the opportunity to hear from the UK Government experts involved in EES on how the phased implementation will work, so that they are able to advise their staff, make any operational changes needed and support their customers. 'As EES is going to launch in a way that is quite different to how it was originally planned, even if members have attended previous ABTA sessions on EES, it's important they also come along to this one as some of the information is different.'
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Travel expert shares sneaky hack to avoid expensive mini bar costs - but asks not to be judged
A travel expert has shared her sneaky hack to help others avoid expensive mini bar costs. Carmen Roberts, a TV host and travel business owner, posted the trick on her Instagram account, @carmenroberts_travels. Many tourists reach for a refreshing drink from the hotel room mini fridge – some without realising it may come with a high price tag. Most people will pay the bill at the end of their stay, but Carmen has revealed a way to avoid being hit with inflated pricing. She penned: 'Confession: I drank the $12 mini bar soft drink and replaced it before checkout. Don't judge.' The travel expert simply heads to a local shop and buys the same drink, but at a fraction of the cost. 'Mini Bar Madness - $12 for a soft drink? No thanks,' Carmen added. 'I'll grab the same one at a local supermarket for $1.' She shared other tricks for saving money while away on holiday, including bringing a refillable bottle to avoid paying top prices when out and about. 'Bottled Water at Tourist Attractions - Always bring a refillable bottle,' Carmen wrote. 'Many airports, stations, and cities have free filtered water. Those €4 impulse bottles add up fast.' In response to the minibar hack, one baffled Instagram user gushed, 'This is so clever!' Carmen responded and admitted that she has had issues in the past when she couldn't find the same drink or snack. She said: 'I should say this has backfired in the past when I couldn't find the exact same bag of nuts or soda etc to replace!!' It comes as another travel expert, Dimple Chudasama-Adams, revealed a checklist of essential tasks every holidaymaker must do before settling into their hotel room. The seasoned traveller, from Birmingham, UK, regularly shares 'secret' tips and travel advice with her 5,400 following on Instagram. In a recent video, posted to her account @escape_the_ordinary_by_dimple, Dimple unveiled her 'travel pro checklist' of five crucial jobs to do in hotel rooms or rented accommodation to ensure safety, comfort and and optimum hygiene. The first is checking for bed bugs, which is crucial on arrival as it can help prevent an infestation in your own home once your trip has come to an end. Bed bugs are excellent hitchhikers and can easily attach themselves to luggage, clothing, and other items, so thoroughly inspecting the room before unpacking can help prevent their spread. Dimple advises holidaymakers to 'pull back sheets and inspect mattress corners' for dark spots that could indicate the presence of bed bugs.
Travel Daily News
23-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
TerraPay urges small travel firms to adopt virtual cards
Recommendations from payment provider TerraPay on optimizing your payment setup – especially if you are a small property owner navigating international transactions. BARCELONA – Ahead of next week's Bavel Summit by Voxel in Barcelona, payment provider TerraPay is urging the 35% of travel businesses – especially small and single-property operators – that currently don't accept virtual cards to reconsider their payment strategies. The company warns that outdated systems and reliance on traditional banking are putting many operators at a disadvantage position in the rapidly evolving digital marketplace. Koert Grasveld, Vice President of Travel Payments at TerraPay, says: 'Small property owners often struggle with managing international payments due to limited access to advanced digital tools and the high costs associated with traditional banking systems. 'These challenges include slow transaction times, high fees, and complex processes that hinder cash flow and create barriers to competing effectively on a global scale. For many small-scale operators – especially those managing just one or a few properties – these inefficiencies can significantly impact their ability to capture and serve international guests smoothly.' Grasveld points to virtual cards and other modern payment tools as a viable alternative that can simplify cross-border transactions and reduce dependence on legacy infrastructure. 'These platforms enable instant, secure, and cost-effective transfers, often bypassing intermediaries that add delays and extra costs,' he said. And adds: 'By adopting virtual payments, small property owners can streamline financial operations, improve cash flow management, and unlock new opportunities to grow in an increasingly global and digital travel economy.' Despite the growing shift toward digital transactions, many small hotel and boutique property managers still rely on slow and costly SWIFT-based systems. This creates friction and operational delays that disproportionately affect smaller players – especially in regions where virtual card infrastructure is underdeveloped or nonexistent. Grasveld explains that this gap can be bridged by offering a more streamlined cross-border payment solution – one that reduces fees, shortens settlement times, and improves accessibility. This is particularly crucial in regions where mobile wallets have leapfrogged traditional banks, and businesses need more agile, tech-enabled solutions to stay competitive. In markets like Asia, where many individuals and businesses do not have bank accounts but rely heavily on mobile wallets, integrating directly with local financial ecosystems allows providers like TerraPay to eliminate traditional intermediaries and deliver fast, secure transfers – with no bank account required. The same technology is also enabling airlines and online travel agencies (OTAs) to deliver instant payouts to travelers to cover urgent expenses such as food and drinks or hotel accommodation – without the delays or limitations of traditional card-based systems. As the travel sector continues to digitalize, embracing flexible, secure, and scalable payment tools is becoming a necessity. TerraPay's message ahead of the Bavel Summit is clear: the industry – especially its smallest players – can't afford to be left behind.
