INSIDE THIS
WEEK Contents
NEWS Hot Stories
Number of agency closures falls sharply; Bookings for Turkey up 26% on 2018; Saga chief bags Hall of Fame award; Jet2 staff lauded for customer care; Trade reacts to FCO’s Sri Lanka advice
Round-up Intrepid forecast; TTNG signs Atas deal 08
WIN!
A pair of Bose headphones or £25 vouchers by taking our Cool Cruises survey page 30
Special Reports Cook report reveals latest trends Celebrity showcases Flora to agents IGLTA Convention 2019, New York
Talk Back Cook, Sri Lanka, Scottish APD, Riviera
NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Royal, Armani, Saga, Loganair
10 12 14
17 04 19
Operator Cosmos, Shearings, ITC, Haven, Ramblers, Rocky Mountaineer, Funway 20
Cruise A-Rosa, Fred Olsen, Azamara
FRONTLINE Comment Gordon McCreadie, If Only
21
A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR The future’s still bright I
have had the privilege of reporting on the travel trade for more than two decades, and throughout that period, the future of travel on the high street has been a source of great debate. Over the years, commentators and advocates of different business models have predicted that traditional retail agents would soon be a thing of the past, while those on the other side of the argument unsurprisingly insisted they would be going nowhere. As with many debates, the real answer probably lies somewhere in between. Consolidation and shifts in consumer buying habits have led to an inevitable contraction in the travel retail footprint, but there’s clearly still life in the model for many businesses. Already this year, we’ve reported on a range of agencies
that are investing in bricks and mortar. And in today’s issue, we report on figures that indicate the demise of the high street agent appears to be a long way off (page four). Speaking to retailers, it’s clear that they can’t rely on
passing traffic in the same way they used to. But that has led them to think creatively and explore how different enquiry and booking channels can complement, rather than compete with, each other. As I write this, we are preparing for the judging of this
year’s Agent Achievement Awards and, as always, our shortlists feature agents and agencies operating in a range of different channels. I never tire of listening to our finalists telling
their stories, as each is an eloquent reminder that the future for quality travel retailers remains very bright indeed.
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Caught on Camera Midcounties, Global 26 This Week In Laker, Travelcare, swine flu 27 Mystery Shopper Carlisle
32 DESTINATIONS
Greece & Cyprus Limassol: Lemons, linen, lace and luxury 34 Villas: 8 of the best for multigenerations 40
COVER STAR Dawn Wootton poses on NCL’s Bahamas private island, Great Stirrup Cay
page 28 PHOTO: STEVE HOCKSTEIN
Family Holidays Kids’ Clubs: Your guide to key resorts
47 River Thames: Float off from Chertsey 54
BUSINESS Travolution round-table debate:
‘Some tech suppliers lie about systems’ May 2 64 WHAT
LUCY DID THIS WEEK
1
2 3
Lucy Huxley Editor-in-chief @Lucy_Huxley
Joined Avalon Waterways bosses Giles Hawke and Janet Parton, 40 floors above the London skyline, for an update on their developments.
Marvelled at the stories of the young managers, entrepreneurs and inductees at the 2019 British Travel & Hospitality Hall of Fame.
Spent Saturday on board Sapphire Princess in Southampton, filming something very special ahead of the Clia Conference later this month.
2 May 2019
travelweekly.co.uk 3
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