Travel News July/August 2022
WHAT DOES POST COVID RECOVERY LOOK LIKE FOR THE TRAVEL TRADE?
Expedia - “It’s doing fine at the moment. We are almost hitting 2019 figures. The industry is recovering, bookings are coming through. People are getting a bit more trust in the industry, there are still a few hurdles along the way. It hit hard but we are definitely on the way forward.” Etihad Airways - “Post-covid for Etihad means opening of routes, plenty of more travel coming for destinations, such as India, Abu Dhabi, Sydney, Melbourne, Phuket, Bangkok. We are increasing our flights to a daily services from the 4th of July, which means more frequency. More capacity for all travellers, travelling out of Dublin.” Azamara - “Very, very positive. At present time, it’s very busy for us. We had a new ship this year, which just launched last month, called Azamara Onward. She’s new to us, she’s been completely refurbished. So we’ve actually grown in size, we are ready to grow again. It’s exciting times for Azamara.” Saudi - “Post covid is going to be really great for Saudi, a lot of people are starting to travel to the middle-east, cause they are looking at the mid-range destinations rather than long-haul. So it’s really exciting times. We are still fairly new, as we only opened up in 2019. Then Covid-19 hit, so now is a really exciting time for people to travel. Things are looking good. Covid recovery is almost like Saudi starting again, rather than recovering because it’s such a new destination. So it’s really great to kick- start again post-covid.” Titanic Distillers - “Titanic distillers will hopefully open in Autumn 2022, It will be a boutique distillery, offering tours around the pump house and the Thompson dock where titanic was built. The whiskey has been out for a year, the vodka was just launched over three weeks ago, by the end of the year we hope to have gin. The tours will run around an hour, and then we will build those tours up into VIPs, corporate events. It will be a great facility located at the end of the Maritime Mile, we’re adding a fantastic attraction to the end of the Maritime Mile. So people will see something very new in 2022.”
Right: Anita Thomas and Filippo Rocchi, Emirates, set up for the busy two days of networking
Above: JTA Holidays and Princess Cruises’ Craig Davidson looks forward to welcoming agents
Left: Explora Journeys’ Priti Mehta speaks with David Coulter of Blue Bay Travel at the networking event at this years event
Right: Ponant’s Danny
Giles enjoys networking with agents over two days at this years event
THE BIG TRAVEL TRADE EVENT 2022 41
Left: Diane Poole OBE and
Lewis
Right: Robert Wilson and Julie Magill, Travel Solutions, teamed with with Maressa McWilliams of City of Derry Airport for two days at the BTTE 2022
Right: Jade Calver, Playa hotels and Resorts, speaks with agents at the BTTE 2022
Above: ABTA’s Emma Wade and Danny Waine speaking with agents Savannah and Maxine Bracewell from Travel Max on how to protect thier travel agency
Left:
American Holidays’ Amy
McFadden and Diane Williams caught up with agents Aimee Morgan, Sharon Morgan and Sharon Murphy from Travel Cousellors at the Big Travel Trade Event 2022
McCann of Titanic Distillers tippled their 2022 plans for the brand’s new
Distillers at this years Big Travel Trade Event
“This Year is Going to be Successful”- NITN Catches Up with Jet2holidays Head of Trade
NI Travel News caught up with Jet2holidays Head of Trade, Alan Cross, to find out what the future holds for
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays and how the airline has dealt with the pandemic situation. What does post covid recovery look like for Jet2holidays? “It started on the first day that we were in to turmoil, 26th March, and then from that day it was all stations go to get things back; We never thought it would last as long, never thought it would be as bad,the agents and suppliers and everybody alike, but its about the industry getting together and actually being proactive . We all know what has happened in the past two years, we don’t need to go over old ground with that one, and we all know the pain and suffering we’ve been through. So it’s all about positivity, proactive marking activity over there ,pulling together, the customers are out there, the demand is over there and the travel agents; It’s up to supporting them and helping them to go out and get that.”
Jet2hoildays’ Head of Trade Alan Cross
How do you feel the industry has dealt with the difficult situation of the past two years? “Its predominantly about booking suppliers that you
can trust at the end of the day and we are an operator you can trust. It all starts at the beginning of the booking to the end of the booking, and beyond that. Again ,getting repeat business, Jet2holidays have got the infrastructure to deliver quality customer service products and also being about booking with confidence from a customers perspective and a travel agent perspective- what a partnership” What are you most excited about for the future? “Getting a run at this and no stop-start effect. So what’s starting now is very early, getting the momentum going through there. This year is going to be successful- We’re looking to [20]23, we’ve got to look ahead to that, and all signs are it’s going to be a bumper year again.”
Jet2.com Jet2holidays have been the only airline not to cancel any flights during the recent travel chaos. What do current bookings look like like?
“Bookings are very healthy for us but that’s not luck.
That is hard work thats got that delivered. We have done all of tactical stuff- we now have dedicated Jet2. com for packages for Jet2holidays and two weeks ago, actually, one of the first [flights} to go was a Belfast-
Tenerife and it was 100% package holidays and it was 100% sold factor on that one. That is what we have got to achieve for the quality service, for the infrastructure of not only the airline, but the ground handling as well and thats what we do best.”
“When people are on holiday, one of the most important things is the supporting people when things don’t got to plan. We’ve got the red team out there, this not just a number, we’ve got the support of individuals and that support is out for the customer and the travel agent as well.” Where can customers and agents find the Jet2holidays Red Team?
“The in resort helpers, the red team at this end- they’re checking in, they’re guiding you, that are making sure the queues go down and when customers get to the other end, we’ve got in resort helpers. They will visit the key hotels, there’s a contact telephone number if someone needs them, they will come and visit them as,and when, required in their property. So as I say, this is about seeing people through from beginning to end of a holiday, holding their hand as Jess Glynn would say”.
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