From the managing editor

This is the sixth issue of travelbulletin since the magazine was taken over by the Travel Daily group, and I would once again like to thank the industry for your ongoing support, comments and suggestions. Subscriptions and readership have surged (particularly among frontline and home-based consultants), our readers are thrilled at the publication’s makeover - and it’s been lots of fun too! 2015 is going to be a big year for the TD group, which is now in its 21st year. We’re planning to celebrate in a big way during the Travel Industry Exhibition in July, while Travel Daily and travelbulletin are proud to continue as media sponsors of the National Travel Industry Awards which are shaping up to be bigger and better than ever. I am also thrilled to announce that editor Louise Wallace has accepted her nomination in the Best Travel Writer category at the NTIA, a recognition of her hard work and dedication to bringing the magazine to you each month. Meanwhile it was intriguing to see Helloworld ceo Elizabeth Gaines basking in the glow of a surge in the company’s share price during an interview on Sky Business last week. Host Peter Switzer cited the 65% jump from 23c to 38c, gushing to Gaines “you must be thrilled!” Of course she is – but what Switzer missed was the primary reason for the increase, which was the $12 million purchase of 7% of the company by an investment vehicle owned by industry doyen Spiros Alysandratos – the owner of Consolidated Travel and a 50% shareholder in the Express Travel Group. It was no secret that the vendor of the shares, UBS, wanted to sell down its stake. But the move – and the generous price paid – has prompted the question of “what’s Spiros up to?” The Alysandratos family now holds about 19.7% of Helloworld – just below the 20% threshold which would require them to declare a formal takeover bid. Such a move would not be the first time for the wily Greek, whose previous takeover in 2002 saw him as the majority owner of Jetset Travelworld – before his stake was repeatedly diluted through the various MFS, S8, Qantas Holidays and Stella deals. Despite his substantial stake in the business, Alysandratos currently doesn’t have any representation on the Helloworld board, and at the very least this is something that is surely set to change after this latest move. The Helloworld share price has dipped back to about 34c as the company’s shareholders wait with bated breath to see the next development.