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Dutch News from 11 minutes

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NOS Journaal gemist? Start met kijken op npostart.nl

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Met het laatste nieuws, gebeurtenissen van nationaal en internationaal belang en de weersverwachting.

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European food waste

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BBC World Service - Report Reveals Extent of European 'Ugly' Food Waste

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BBC iPlayer Radio - listen to live BBC Radio or catch up on BBC programmes from across the UK and World Service

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https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45103026

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The BBC's weekly The Boss series profiles a different business leader from around the world. This week we speak to Jen Atkinson, chairwoman and co-owner of holiday group Inspiring Travel Company (ITC).

When Jen Atkinson saw the travel business she was working for in 2009 flounder in a "perfect storm", she decided she would put herself forward to try to save the company.

Ms Atkinson was 34 at the time, leading the marketing team at UK firm ITC.

As a result of the global financial crisis there had been a big downturn in the number of people going on holiday, and how much they spent on them.

What made matters worse for ITC was that it was an old-fashioned travel agency, which didn't accept any online bookings. Customers had to to phone up and speak to a member of staff.

And with cash-strapped consumers either not going on holiday at all or increasingly buying their holidays online, hoping to get the lowest possible price, ITC was haemorrhaging losses.

The company's founder and boss Drew Foster had successfully grown the business since 1974, but in 2009 he was seriously ill, and ITC's future was in doubt.

"It was a perfect storm of disasters for the company," says Ms Atkinson, now 43. "I was thinking, 'What is going to happen to us? Are we going to close? Are we going to be sold?'

"I remember vividly that I had a plan, I had a vision for saving the firm, so I scribbled it down on two sheets of A4 paper and went to see Drew.

"He went, 'Great, crack on,' and that is how I came to run ITC."

Based in Chester, in the north of England, ITC had always attracted a certain number of wealthy customers. Ms Atkinson's plan was to go after more of them, by offering customers holidays that are not just luxurious, but as bespoke as possible.

"I thought that if we give our top customers something that they couldn't order themselves, our business would have a fighting chance of being successful," she says.

"It is about providing the best possible insight. So when discussing a holiday destination, our staff can say things like, 'Why don't you stay in this room?' or 'This room is great, because it is on the ground floor and goes straight onto the beach.'

"You cannot get that service or insight on the internet, where there is so much contradictory advice."

After making the difficult decision to reduce ITC's workforce from 130 to 80 people, Ms Atkinson's turnaround plan slowly started to work. Sadly Mr Foster did not get to see her efforts come to fruition as he died in October 2009.

Today ITC enjoys an annual turnover of £95m. More importantly, Ms Atkinson has returned the business to profitability, and the number of employees is now 210.

The company's customers include popstars, TV presenters, footballers, business leaders, and other holidaymakers with more than a few quid.

Born and brought up in Leeds, Ms Atkinson's childhood holidays were a world away from those enjoyed by ITC's customers - her family would rent a caravan.

After attending her local comprehensive school, she went to Lancaster University where she graduated in law and marketing.

An early career in marketing then followed, and she first joined ITC in 2002. After becoming chief executive in 2009, she and a business partner bought the company in 2013. Then last year she sold a chunk to a private equity group.

Married with two young children, Ms Atkinson says she has never faced any problems in business because she was a woman, but admits that juggling leading a company while being a new mum can be difficult.

"I have honestly never faced any glass ceilings, but if I had, I would have smashed them," she says. "What is hard to manage, though, is your innate maternal feelings when you have children. Trying to manage the mum guilt is the hardest thing... but I have a great husband."

Among ITC's workforce, 80% are female, and until recently all the board members were also women.
More The Boss features, which every week profile a different business leader from around the world:

'If you go big, someone will be jealous'

A stylishly affordable success story

The 13-year-old who built a best-selling lemonade brand

How two strangers set up Dropbox and made billions

The polio survivor who says she 'was one of the lucky ones''

To make sure that employees know as much as possible about the holiday destinations and hotels that the company offers, each gets to go on two or three luxury long-haul trips a year. As a result, the company doesn't struggle to find would-be recruits.

Travel industry expert Mike Bugsgang, of Bugsgang & Associates, says there will always be a place for traditional travel agents that don't sell online, such as ITC, Scott Dunn, and Cox & Kings.

"There are still huge numbers of consumers in every section of the market who, when spending a large proportion of their annual budget, prefer to have in-depth guidance from an expert on their holiday options," he says.

"The Inspiring Travel Company is a prime example of this type of company, which can provide a really personalised and tailored approach to holiday booking."

After nine years as chief executive, earlier this year Ms Atkinson moved across into the chairman role. She says this is so that she can concentrate on more strategic, long-term matters, while the new chief executive looks after the day-to-day running of the business.

"People said that the internet would make travel companies like ITC extinct, but we are still here," she says.

"We don't do online sales, and never will, because by actually speaking to our customers we can offer them a better service."

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The travel boss who refuses to do online sales

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The BBC's weekly The Boss series profiles a different business leader from around the world. This week we speak to Jen Atkinson, chairwoman and co-owner of holiday group Inspiring Travel Company (ITC). When Jen Atkinson saw the travel business she was working for in 2009 flounder in a "perfect storm", she decided she would put herself forward to try to save the company.

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Uganda's food waste warrior aims to help farmers

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Engineer Lawrence Okettayot has come up with a food dehydrator that could tackle the world's food waste crisis.

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Another new year brings another round of minimum wage hikes in 18 states.

The federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour, with a tipped wage in some states at $2.13 per hour. But many states are taking action with wage hikes scheduled to go into effect on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1, 2018.

In 10 states, the increases are part of a phased-in transition to reach a certain level, eventually $15 per hour in states like New York and California.

Another eight states will see annual cost-of-living index adjustments, including Alaska, Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio and South Dakota.

Additionally, in Washington, D.C., and Oregon, wage hikes are scheduled to go into effect in July, rather than Jan. 1, 2018. In the District of Columbia, the minimum wage of $12.50 per hour will increase to $13.25 per hour, and in Oregon the standard rate of $10.25 increases to $10.75 on July 1, although wage rates are higher for employers in the Portland area.

Another 20 cities and counties across the country will also raise minimum wages on the first of the year, and more wage hikes are coming. Campaigns are underway to raise the minimum wage floor in at least 17 more states and cities, including Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan and Nevada, according to the National Employment Law Project.

Here's a look at where the minimum wage will go up in 2018. Except where noted, all of these increases take effect on Jan. 1, 2018:

Arizona: The current hourly minimum wage of $10 increases to $10.50 per hour. The rate is scheduled to go up by another 50 cents in 2019, reaching $12 per hour by 2020. In 2021, cost-of-living indexing will begin.

California: The current rate of $10.50 per hour increases to $11 per hour, and is on track to reach $15 by 2022. Small businesses with 25 or fewer employees will have an extra year to comply, reaching $15 in 2023. Once the rate hits $15, cost-of-living increases kick in.

Colorado: The current rate of $9.30 per hour increases to $10.20 per hour, with future increases to $11.10 in 2019, then to $12 in 2020, with indexing starting in 2021.

Hawaii: The rate of $9.25 per hour increases to $10.10 per hour.

Maine: The $9 per hour wage increases to $10 per hour, with future increases to $11 in 2019, $12 in 2020 and indexing in 2021.

Michigan: The $8.90 per hour wage increases to $9.25, and indexing begins in 2019.

New York: The minimum wage of $9.70 per hour for most of the state increases to $10.40 per hour on Dec. 31, with continued increases scheduled until reaching $12.50 in 2020. At that point, increases will be based on cost of living to get the wage to $15 per hour.

In New York City, the minimum wage for employers of 11 or more people increases to $13 per hour on Dec. 31, and $12 per hour for smaller businesses. The rate increases for smaller businesses annually to reach $15 in 2019. On Long Island and in Westchester, the rate increases to $11 on Dec. 31.

Rhode Island: The current rate of $9.60 per hour increases to $10.10, with future increase to $10.50 per hour in 2019.

Vermont: The $10 per hour minimum wage increases to $10.50 per hour, with additional indexing beginning in 2019.

Washington state: The current $11 per hour wage increases to $11.50, with future increases to $12 in 2019, and $13.50 in 2020, with indexing beginning in 2021.
Sources: U.S. Department of Labor/National Conference of State Legislatures, Business for a Fair Minimum Wage
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter: @livetodineout

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Minimum wage to rise in 18 states in 2018

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Another new year brings another round of minimum wage hikes in 18 states. The federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 per hour, with a tipped wage in some states at $2.13 per hour. But many states are taking action with wage hikes scheduled to go into effect on Dec.

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Are they good for cities?

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Scotland's culture minister has rebuked the leader of Edinburgh city council for suggesting a tourist tax could be in operation in the city in 2019.

The council says adding a £1 charge to hotel guests' bills could raise £11m to fund local services in Edinburgh.

Leader Adam McVey posted on Twitter that such a scheme could be "ready for implementation" within 12 months.

But Fiona Hyslop replied saying there is "no agreement with the Scottish government" to make this happen.

The council is keen to introduce a "transient visitor levy" amid rising visitor numbers. Such occupancy or "bed tax" schemes are common in many EU countries, and other UK cities including Hull and London have pondered the idea.

However, such a move has been opposed by business groups such as the Federation of Small Businesses, who call it "potentially damaging".

Ms Hyslop - who was reappointed as culture secretary in June's cabinet reshuffle - has previously stated that taxing tourists " doesn't make sense" in light of already high VAT charges on the industry.

Mr McVey, an SNP councillor who leads the Edinburgh administration in coalition with Labour, said "quite a lot of progress" had been made on the scheme.

After he posted on Twitter that plans for a tourist tax would be "ready for implementation" within 12 months, fellow SNP representative Ms Hyslop - who is currently in Japan on government business - replied by posting three question marks.

She wrote: "So let's be clear - you have no shared plans, no tourist business consultation and no agreement with the Scottish government."

Mr McVey replied that the council was "in the process of business engagement" and said there was no agreement with the government "yet".

Image Copyright @FionaHyslop @FionaHyslop Report

Image Copyright @FionaHyslop @FionaHyslopReport

He later added: "All 32 local authority leaders now stand with Edinburgh and other councils looking to pursue a tourist tax and momentum is building.

"Key hotel industry leaders in the city are also joining the conversation and giving their support to our efforts. This is a key part of our programme for the capital and I'm confident we will deliver a transient visitor levy in the best interests of our tourist economy and the people of Edinburgh."

The Scottish Conservatives - who oppose having a tourist tax scheme - said the exchange was "an embarrassing split right at the top of the SNP", with Ms Hyslop "slapping down" Mr McVey "in full public view".

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Scotland's culture minister has rebuked the leader of Edinburgh city council for suggesting a tourist tax could be in operation in the city in 2019. The council says adding a £1 charge to hotel guests' bills could raise £11m to fund local services in Edinburgh.

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Plan tax on hotels

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A tourist tax could be in place in Edinburgh from spring 2018 if a City Deal for the region is given the go-ahead, according to the council leader.

Councils in Fife, the Lothians, and the Borders have joined together to bid for up to £2bn from a scheme aimed at stimulating investment that involves both the UK and Scottish governments.

The deal would grant councils the power to introduce a levy on visitors.

It is likely that the money would be ringfenced for culture and leisure use.

A final decision on the City Deal - similar to those signed in Glasgow and Aberdeen - is expected in March.

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A tourist tax could be in place in Edinburgh from spring 2018 if a City Deal for the region is given the go-ahead, according to the council leader. Councils in Fife, the Lothians, and the Borders have joined together to bid for up to £2bn from a scheme aimed at stimulating investment that involves both the UK and Scottish governments.

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Legal restrictions for OTAs

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Hotel booking sites must review the way they rank and display rooms, the UK's competition watchdog has said.

Some sites may be making misleading claims about discounts, the Competition and Markets Authority said.

It is also examining whether sites are giving a false impression of room availability and "rushing" customers into booking decisions.

The CMA did not name which companies it has been investigating, but leading sites include Expedia and Booking.com.

The extent to which a hotel's ranking may be influenced by the size of the commission it pays was another issue highlighted by the CMA.

'Trust'

The CMA, which launched its investigation into online booking sites in October, says it has sent warning letters to "a range of sites", demanding they review their practices to make sure they are fair and comply with consumer protection law.

Concerns include:

How search result rankings are influenced by factors irrelevant to consumers, such as how much commission a hotel pays the site

Whether a false impression is created by claims about how many people are looking at the same room, how many rooms are left, and how long a price is available

Clarity over discounts, including whether a weekday rate is being compared to a previous weekend rate

Whether holidaymakers are hit with unexpected extra charges such as taxes and booking fees later in the booking process

About 70% of people who shop around for accommodation use hotel booking sites, according to the CMA.

"Booking sites can make it so much easier to choose your holiday, but only if people are able to trust them," said Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA.

"We are now demanding that sites think again about how they are presenting information to their customers and make sure they are complying with the law. Our next step is to take any necessary action - including through the courts if needed - to ensure people get a fair deal."

Expedia, one of the leading sites, said: "Expedia Group continuously aims to deliver attractive travel options at affordable prices in transparent, clear and easy to understand ways, so that our customers can make informed travel choices. Expedia will continue to engage with the CMA on these consumer matters, as it continues its inquiries in the travel sector."

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UK Hospitality which represents hoteliers, welcomed the CMA's announcement saying it would bring "reassurance" for customers.

She added that the inquiry should lead to a wider review of the charges that these booking sites levied on hotels, which led to higher prices for holidaymakers.

"This is another example of digital businesses stealing an unfair lead on honest, regulated operators whose first concern is to deliver good service to their customers," she said.

Lavinia Dagostine has run a nine-room guest house in Dorset for 11 years and said that these sites could make life difficult for traditional providers. She relies on her own website and return guests before sending vacancies to a booking site.

"It means that smaller B&Bs get left out because they can't afford to pay commission on top of all their other expenses," she said.

"I agree it is easier for the booker but the commissions they charge the hotel or B&B sometimes take away any small profit that can be made, making us have to increase our prices."

Unlimited fines

The watchdog has ordered the sites, which it has not officially named, to review their practices, and to respond within the next few months.

At the end of the review, the sites can either give a legally-binding commitment to change the way they operate, or argue their case that their practices do not break the law.

If the CMA disagrees with their arguments, it can take the companies to court, where unlimited fines can be levied.

It has also raised various price guarantee claims with the Advertising Standards Authority.

Separately, the new EU Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations come into force on Sunday.

The changes mean that package holidays consisting of a flight, hotel, car-hire or other tourist services - either bought online for an all-in price or through linked web pages - will get the same protection as packages bought in travel agencies.

These protections include being flown home or a refund if a travel company or airline goes bust.

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Watchdog takes aim at hotel booking sites

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Hotel booking sites must review the way they rank and display rooms, the UK's competition watchdog has said. Some sites may be making misleading claims about discounts, the Competition and Markets Authority said. It is also examining whether sites are giving a false impression of room availability and "rushing" customers into booking decisions.

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Two online travel agents and a hotel group could be limiting price competition on hotel room sales, early results of an investigation have found.

Booking.com and Expedia entered into separate agreements with Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), the Office of Fair Trading said.

The regulator's provisional findings are that these agreements infringed competition law.

Expedia and IHG argued that the arrangements complied with the law.

Expedia claimed that the OFT had yet to show that any laws had been broken.

"Expedia remains committed to ensuring that it provides consumers with the widest possible choice of travel options at competitive prices and will seek to safeguard its ability to continue to do so in relation to the current regulatory process," it said in a statement.

IHG said its arrangements with online booking agents were "compliant with competition laws and consistent with the long-standing approach of the global hotel industry".

Booking.com's parent company, Priceline, said it would contest the allegations "vigorously", claiming that it did not control hotel pricing.

The three firms can now respond to the allegations within three months.

Big business

Hotels sell some rooms directly to customers, but use online agents to keep their occupancy levels high.

The UK's online travel agency sector is the largest in Europe. The OFT said that UK hotel bookings through online travel agents totalled approximately £849m in 2010.

We want people to benefit fully from being able to shop around online
Clive Maxwell, Chief executive, OFT

The sale of hotel rooms over the internet has become a huge business, dominated by the hotels themselves and by global websites which sell the rooms on commission.

An OFT investigation began in September 2010, after a discount website called Skoosh.com complained that it was being put under pressure to maintain a standard price rather than share its commission with customers. It covers bookings by UK residents for rooms around the world.

The provisional findings of the OFT's investigation is that the agreements between Booking.com and Expedia with IHG could limit price competition and create barriers for other firms to expand.

The arrangement between Booking.com and IHG was still in place, while Expedia allegedly violated rules between October 2007 and September 2010, the OFT added.

'Widespread'

"We want people to benefit fully from being able to shop around online and get a better deal from discounters that are prepared to share their commission with customers," said Clive Maxwell, OFT chief executive.

"The OFT's provisional view is that Booking.com, Expedia and InterContinental Hotels Group have infringed competition law. However, these are the OFT's provisional findings only. All parties will now have a full opportunity to respond."

Within the travel business the practice of keeping prices at a pre-set level is talked about openly and is called "rate parity".

The effect is that a customer might look at several websites and see the same prices advertised.

And where there is very little variation in prices, a website can claim, truthfully, that its prices are the "cheapest".

The OFT said it limited its investigation to a small number of major companies. However, the investigation was likely to have wider implications as the alleged practices were potentially widespread in the industry, it added.

If the regulator concludes that there have been breaches of the Competition Act, it can impose penalties of up to 10% of a company's turnover.

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Two online travel agents and a hotel group could be limiting price competition on hotel room sales, early results of an investigation have found. Booking.com and Expedia entered into separate agreements with Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), the Office of Fair Trading said. The regulator's provisional findings are that these agreements infringed competition law.