AAA finalists show strength of the trade A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


Chairing the judging panels for the Agent Achievement Awards is always a high point, with this year’s interviews for the trade’s top honours taking place throughout last week. After the cancellation of the 2020 event due to the pandemic and the postponement of the 2021 edition to last September, it is great to be gearing up for the AAAs’ traditional July celebration. And as always, I was blown away by the professionalism, knowledge


and care shown by individual agents, support team members and agencies alike (Shortlists, page 10). One of the consistent trends coming from the interviews was the need for companies and managers to adapt how they do business to support staff – a shift reflected by the Travel Village Group’s plan to consider


requests from agents to take working holidays with their families (page 6). This sort of flexibility will be crucial as the industry continues to face recruitment and retention challenges, and is evidence of how post-pandemic working practices can be more adaptable than many of us would have thought two years ago. Another continuing and welcome trend is the representation of multiple sale channels across the shortlists, with retail and call centre agents and agencies in the mix together with those operating primarily online or from home. While homeworking is clearly an increasingly attractive proposition for many, there will always be a place for bricks and mortar, as our story on shop openings this week illustrates (page 6). I can’t wait to celebrate our incredible travel trade in all its forms when the AAAs return on July 14.


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS Inflation ‘squeezing overseas plans’ 4


Airports handle half-term ‘pretty well’ 4 Summer availability ‘becoming an issue’ 5 Travel Village initiative; store successes 6 AAAs 2022


close-up


Audley Travel employees help out at food waste charity The Felix Project page 24


Shortlists revealed for next month’s Agent Achievement Awards in London


10


comment Gordon McCreadie: Tout new product 14


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product


Jet2, Disney Cruise Line, Just Go! 17


Explore unveils 11 ‘slow’ Europe tours 19 Seabourn, Arena, Princess, Aurora 20


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Shutterstock/Sergii Koval, Travnikov Studio, Matt Ubermensch; Harri Tarvainen


travelweekly.co.uk


FRONTLINE Your Stories Rahul Aggarwal revives firm with sustainability focus 23


close-up Travel Counsellors, Atas, Audley, JTB 24


FOLLOW US: @travelweekly


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OWelcomed Lotus PR to the T


offices for after-work drinks so our teams could meet and we could learn more about their clients.


OHad a great catch-up with Lloyd Cross of Jet2holidays, discussing everything from the Agent Achievement Awards to future fam trips and more.


OJoined my kids for the 12k RideLondon FreeCycle – the night after an epic 90s club night with old school friends!


ravel Weekly


agents’ diary


David Walker: We can fix some things 25 competitions


Seabourn cruise, Saint Lucia fam, wine 26 Get Social


VAT refund, Tui, Allen, Now Lets Travel 27 DESTINATIONS


Caribbean & Atlantic Ocean Bermuda: The pandemic brought a tourism boost to the island as well as new hotels and restaurants 28 36


Jamaica: Snapshot of the island


Multi-centre: Help clients see more of the region with advice from the experts 38 The Nordics National Parks: Find out about Finland’s new Salla park and the best of the rest 40


BUSINESS NEWS CAA’s Atol Reform consultation:


›’Plans won’t ease acquirers’ fears’ 46 ›Majority favour trusts over bonds


travelweeklyuk


›Trade rejects ‘compulsory segregation’ 48 @travelweeklyuk


47 2 JUNE 2022 3


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