Three travel firms have adverts banned over 'misleading' environmental credentials. Three online travel agents have been censured over environmental claims made in adverts. Loveholidays, Thomas Cook and DailAFlight all breached the advertising code, according to the Advertising Standards Authority. The advertising watchdog ruled that paid-for Google or Meta adverts by the companies promoting eco resorts "didn't make the basis for their environmental claims clear". The rulings form part of a wider piece of work on environmental claims in the travel agent sector. The adverts seen in July were identified for investigation following intelligence gathering by the ASA's active ad monitoring system, which uses AI to proactively search for online adverts that might break the rules. All three firms were ordered to amend or withdraw the adverts identified. The ASA noted that the advertising code requires that the basis of environmental claims must be clear and "unqualified claims could mislead if they omitted material information". Referring to two loveholidays adverts, the ASA said it considered consumers would interpret the claims 'Eco Resort' and 'Eco Hotel' in the ads as meaning the advertised accommodation had some environmental characteristics or benefits. "While the claims were part of the accommodations' names, we considered they would also be understood as a description of each accommodation. "We understood the resort advertised in ad (a) had eliminated single-use plastics from its operations, used energy-efficient LED lighting and motion sensors to decrease electricity usage, and avoided the use of harmful chemicals. We understood the hotel advertised in ad (b) used: waste separation and recycling; processes to reduce water and electricity usage; and processes to reduce food waste." However, the information on environmental credentials by two accommodation providers "had not been clearly explained in either ad". The ASA also considered consumers would interpret the claim 'Eco Resort' in the Thomas Cook advert "as meaning the advertised accommodation had some environmental characteristics or benefits. "While the claim was part of the accommodation's name, we considered it would also be understood as a description of the resort. "We understood from the advertised resort's website that the accommodation had several environmental initiatives that included the use of solar power, water treatment systems, and the operation of a nature reserve. However, that information had not been clearly explained in the ad." The ASA also found that that resort environmental information had "not been clearly explained" in the DailAFlight advert, "and we considered that the ad was not limited by time or space to the extent that the information could not have been provided. "There was therefore sufficient space within the ad to make clear the basis of the claim 'eco-conscious resort' so that consumers could proceed with their consumer journey in an informed manner. In addition, the ad's landing page did not include information that explained the basis of the claim." Loveholidays said it aggregated and resold third-party accommodation supplied by independent hotel and resort operators, and did not own, operate, or manage the accommodation featured in the ads. The resort and hotel names in the ads were the trading names provided by their suppliers. In each case the term 'Eco' was part of the accommodation's name, and not an environmental claim formulated, adopted, or endorsed by loveholidays. Thomas Cook said the phrase 'Eco Resort' appeared automatically in the ad in response to user search terms. The company said the Sandos Caracol Eco Resort changed its name in July 2025. "However, given some consumers knew the hotel by its previous name, they may have used it when searching for the hotel," Thomas Cook said. The company pointed out that it had taken steps to block 'Sandos Caracol Eco' as a search keyword term to prevent it appearing in future searches after being approached by the ASA. DialAFlight said the claim 'eco-conscious' resort had been taken from a factsheet provided by the accommodation. The Jumeirah Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi provided a list of environmental initiatives and activities undertaken at the resort, the firm added.

How loveholidays is making everyone A builder with Codex. Loveholidays uses OpenAI's Codex to enable non-technical staff to build software tools, transforming workplace roles and internal development processes. Published on 27 August 2026 Loveholidays is deploying OpenAI's Codex AI coding agent across its workforce, allowing non-engineering staff to create and modify software tools. This shift aims to democratize software development within the company, reducing bottlenecks and fostering innovation. Online travel agency loveholidays is deploying OpenAI's Codex AI coding agent across its workforce, enabling employees outside of engineering to develop their own software tools. This initiative, announced in a published account by OpenAI, aims to transform non-technical staff into "builders" capable of creating applications with AI assistance, reducing reliance on engineering teams for internal solutions. According to OpenAI, loveholidays has integrated Codex into various departments such as marketing, operations, and customer support. Employees can describe the functionality they need, and Codex generates the corresponding code, allowing rapid prototyping and iteration without traditional programming expertise. The company views this as a way to democratize software development, increase internal agility, and reduce bottlenecks caused by limited engineering resources. Discover more software testing Programming Loveholidays, a major European online travel retailer, relies heavily on digital systems for pricing, content management, and customer service workflows. Historically, internal tools for these functions have been built by central engineering teams, which often created delays. The company's adoption of AI-assisted development aims to shift this dynamic, empowering domain experts to directly contribute to internal software solutions, freeing engineers to focus on core platform improvements. At a glance report When: ongoing, as of August 2026 The development Loveholidays has begun rolling out OpenAI's Codex AI to non-engineering employees, enabling them to build internal tools without traditional coding skills. At a glance report When: reported by OpenAI in its customer stor... The development OpenAI published a customer story describing how online travel agency loveholidays is using Codex to let employees across the company build software, not just engineers. Impact of ai-driven tool building in travel sector. This development demonstrates a potential paradigm shift in enterprise software creation, where AI coding agents enable non-technical employees to build and maintain internal tools. If successful at loveholidays, this approach could lead to faster innovation cycles, decreased dependency on engineering teams, and a broader redistribution of technical work across organizations. It also raises questions about quality control, security, and maintainability when software is created by non-engineers, issues that are still being evaluated. AI coding assistant for non-technical staff. As an affiliate, EarnQA, Inc. earn on qualifying purchases. AI adoption in enterprise software development. OpenAI's Codex, introduced in 2025, has expanded from a developer-focused tool to a platform adopted across various industries. Several companies in finance, retail, and software have reported using Codex for internal automation and application development. Loveholidays' case is notable for its focus on non-engineering staff, aligning with broader industry trends toward democratizing AI-assisted coding. The travel sector's high transaction volume and content-heavy operations make it an ideal testing ground for such innovations, which could reshape internal workflows and employee roles. "By enabling our team members to create their own tools, we're accelerating our internal processes and reducing delays caused by traditional development queues." - Loveholidays CTO As an affiliate, EarnQA, Inc. earn on qualifying purchases. Unconfirmed details on adoption scale and outcomes. OpenAI's published account does not specify how many employees are actively using Codex, how many tools have been created, or the measurable impact on efficiency or business results. It remains unclear whether this is a pilot program or a widespread rollout, and how the quality, security, and maintainability of AI-generated tools are being managed within loveholidays. AI-powered internal tool builder. As an affiliate, EarnQA, Inc. earn on qualifying purchases. Monitoring adoption, performance, and security. Further details are expected to emerge as loveholidays continues its deployment of Codex. Observers will look for metrics on user engagement, the volume of tools built, and how the company addresses challenges related to software quality and security. Additionally, industry analysts will monitor whether this approach influences broader enterprise software practices and employee roles across sectors. As an affiliate, EarnQA, Inc. earn on qualifying purchases. Key questions. How many employees at loveholidays are using Codex? OpenAI has not disclosed specific numbers on employee adoption rates or the total number of tools developed with Codex at loveholidays. What types of internal tools are being built with Codex? While exact details are not confirmed, reports suggest tools related to pricing, customer support workflows, and content management are among those being prototyped or developed. Are there security concerns with non-engineers building software? The published account does not address security or quality control measures, leaving questions about oversight and risk management open for now. Could this approach replace traditional engineering teams? OpenAI and loveholidays see it as augmenting, not replacing, engineering work - allowing engineers to focus on more complex platform development while empowering domain experts to handle simpler automation tasks.

Agents react to surprise launch of TUI direct-sell budget brand. * By Linsey McNeill * 7 August 2026 Agents have reacted with disappointment to news that TUI has launched a direct-to-consumer budget brand in the UK, with some suggesting they'd been let down by the operator. The travel giant said the standalone Sundeals brand, which has been in development for 18 months, had been created in response to customer research 'across a number of European markets'. Designed, it said, for 'savvy deal hunters', it allows customers to pick from more than 20,000 hotels in over 100 destinations, which are packaged with a range of airlines, including easyJet and Ryanair as well as TUI. Customers can choose to add extras such as luggage and transfers. Sundeals' key destinations are Spain, Greece and Türkiye. Customers will be able to book online, with support available via live chat. A TUI spokesperson said: "Sundeals has been designed as an online travel agent proposition and therefore won't be available for sale through independent travel agents. "However, TUI's commitment to the trade is unchanged. Independent agents remain an important partner for TUI and continue to have access to its extensive range of holidays, cruises and touring products. "We've invested significantly in our trade support over recent years and remain focused on helping agents grow their businesses by selling TUI holidays." While some agents said it wasn't surprising that TUI wanted a direct-sell budget brand to compete with the likes of Loveholidays and On the Beach, others suggested the operator had used them. Posting in the Travel Gossip Facebook group, James Love of Tinas Travel said: "Why doesn't TUI just tell the truth? Travel agents are an irritant that they would like to disappear and TUI - "our commitment to the trade is unchanged" - travel agents are not so stupid that you can do the old look at my right had while I rip your wallet out with the left. "This is the problem when you have two main tour operators who practically run a monopoly and no way to dynamic package to compete! Switch sell time people." Another agent, from Samantha Airways, said: "One thing I have learned about TUI is they are notorious for appealing to us, gaining the extra sales and then launching something that affects the trade with the extra sales that trade has given them. It has helped them launch this new venture." Edinburgh-based agent Peter Rintoul, a member of Your Holiday Booking, said: "They have basically been doing that anyhow for 40 years, constantly undercutting trade then smooching up only to do the same thing again." Other agents suggested the move would damage the TUI brand. Zoe Pope, Director of Everything But Ordinary, said: "That's one way to devalue your brand, and another to make you look desperate. I'm not surprised." TUI said the Sundeals platform brings together inventory from across TUI Group and third-party accommodation and airline partners, giving customers access to a broader range of hotels, airlines and package holiday combinations, it said. All flight-inclusive holidays booked through Sundeals are ATOL protected. TUI said it was launching Sundeals first in the UK but with the ambition to roll it out to other European markets. The operation is being led by Head of Commercial and Operations at First Choice Kevin Nelson (pictured), whose role was extended to Managing Director of Sundeals in January, according to his LinkedIn profile. Andy Stern, Head of Sales and Marketing at First Choice, has seen his role extended to cover Sundeals. "Sundeals has been built to serve a different customer need to First Choice," added the TUI spokesperson. "It's a new pan-European travel brand from TUI Group, designed for customers looking for a low-cost, no-frills holiday booking experience, while First Choice continues to operate as a separate business serving its existing customers in the UK "In terms of colleagues, Sundeals is drawing on expertise from teams across the wider TUI Group, including the UK business. Kevin Nelson is Managing Director of both First Choice and Sundeals, and Andy Stern is Head of Sales & Marketing for both brands. "Their involvement in Sundeals does not change their ongoing leadership of First Choice. More broadly, Sundeals draws on talent and capabilities from across the Group." Kevin said: "Travel Gossip know there is a large group of travellers who genuinely enjoy researching and planning their holidays. They're confident, digitally savvy and like the feeling of finding a holiday, and deal, that's right for them. But these travellers told Travel Gossip that they're tired of spending hours going round in circles trying to compare options and work out whether they've truly found the right trip - a feeling that Travel Gossip is calling Bookers Burnout. "Sundeals has been designed specifically for these savvy deal hunters, helping them cut through the holiday clutter and make decisions with greater confidence. "We've launched with a simple user experience focused on the core features customers told us they need most, and over time we'll continue to introduce smart tools and innovations that make finding and evaluating holiday options even easier."