Parents taking children out of school during term time to go on holiday could face fines, under a crackdown by Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Headteachers are likely to lose the ability to sanction up to two weeks a year of ‘authorised absence’ during term time, in a fresh drive to improve attendance rates reports TravelMole.

The discretionary absence is intended to cover illness, bad weather and bereavements, but many heads come under pressure to grant it so that children can be taken on holidays at times when it is cheaper.

The exchange company and TATOC affiliate RCI has received reports that representatives of this business have contacted RCI Members and have falsely claimed to be calling on behalf of RCI. Resorts Direct uses the website www.resortsdirect.co.uk

RCI would like to make clear that it has no relationship or link whatsoever with Resorts Direct and that any claim by Resorts Direct that it represents RCI is false.

TATOC platinum affiliate and conference sponsor Worldwide Timeshare today announced the completion of a management buy-out from its parent company, Worldwide Leisure Group. The move, which was finalised earlier this month, means that the company is now 100% owned and controlled by its current management team.

The buy-out includes Europe’s largest timeshare resale company, Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, and the rapidly expanding Worldwide Timeshare Exchange, both key industry players that will continue to be run as separate entities.

A list of the 42 winners of Perspective Magazine awards has been released. The ceremony, which took place at a gala dinner, was part of the hugely successful GNEX 2012 at the Ritz Carlton in Cancun, Mexico. This global networking event for the industry is organised by TATOC platinum affiliate, and conference sponsor, Perspective International. Harry Taylor, TATOC executive chairman, attended on behalf of the Association.

There were nearly 150 nominations for the awards and over 6,000 online votes in a wide variety of categories including Best Timeshare Resort, Best Fractional Unit and Entrepreneur of the Year.

As Britain turns attentions to hosting the largest spectacle on earth this summer, VisitBritain has today reported that 30.6 million overseas visitors came to the UK in 2011, a three per cent rise in overseas arrivals from 2010. The year sees a record number of holiday visitors and a record year for visitor spending.

With December’s arrival figures up two per cent, 2011 finished on a high and show that it was a year of positive gains for British tourism, with an overall increase of 800,000 visitors across the year.

TATOC and RDO affiliated timeshare re-sale specialists the Travel and Leisure Group recently represented the timeshare industry at the Earls Court Destinations Travel Show.

Destinations: The Holiday and Travel Show, hosted by broadsheet giant the Times between the 2nd and 5th of February 2012, saw tens of thousands of holiday lovers, tourism experts and interested passers-by descend upon Earls Court. Despite the chilly weather and difficult travelling conditions over the weekend, the show was still very well attended, with Travel & Leisure taking their place at the event alongside travel industry giants Saga, Marriott and numerous travel boards from across the world among the hundreds of stands.