Partnerships will prove key to recovery A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


I was fortunate last week to sit down for long conversations with two industry leaders: Hays Travel owner Irene Hays and Intrepid Group chief executive James Thornton (pages 4, 6 and 8). The businesses Dame Irene and James run are very different, yet both have a similar vision for their futures rooted in a united purpose, passion and pride in their staff. Another notable link between the two conversations was a shared belief in the importance of trade partnerships in the recovery process, and that affirmation was particularly timely as we gear up for the Agent Achievement Awards on September 16 and launch the 2022 Globe Travel Awards, which will return in January after a year’s hiatus. We thought long and hard about running these events as the industry


continues to face immense challenges but were encouraged to do so by readers and partners who told us of their desire to acknowledge and reward those who have stood out during the pandemic. The industry’s biggest awards have always reflected much more than just sales volumes, and that has never been truer than in this disrupted period. In just two weeks’ time, we will find out which agencies will receive those sought-after AAAs based on the votes of suppliers. As we prepare for that great celebration of our agent readers, I would urge you all to turn to page 33 to find out how you can reciprocate and honour the businesses and individuals that have done the most for you over the past 18 months.


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OHad a great meeting with Kate and Robertina from Mail Metro Media, which will be partnering with us on many T


ravel W over the next year.


OCaught up with Tracey from the Gibraltar Tourist Board, who will be accompanying the new tourism minister to our Future of Travel Conference.


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS


Traffic light update ‘boosts confidence’ 4 Hays Travel buoyed by ‘stronger August’ 4 Demands grow for ‘less onerous testing’ 5 The Interview: Dame Irene Hays


Intrepid banks on UK; agency openings 8 special report


They’re back!


Your nine-page guide to the 2022 Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards starts on page 33


Operator reveals Atol renewal shock 11 comment


Giles Hawke: Keep the compassion 12


NEWS YOU CAN USE product


G Adventures, Loganair, Scenic, Viking 19 InsideJapan, America As You Like It 21 Seabourn, CroisiEurope, Hurtigruten 23


FRONTLINE agent diary


Kim Kent: Covid transit rules were a joke 26 Your Stories


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


COVER PHOTO: Steve Dunlop; THIS PAGE: Shutterstock/Buslik; Michael Armstrong


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US:


April Willmott on opening Travel Buddy’s first store 27


@travelweekly 6


ORan the tea stand at my kids’ cricket club, and embarrassed myself in the parents v children match!


eekly events


competitions


Win Malta, Bahamas, Barbados trips 28 Get Social


Furlough, support, green list, Tipto


DESTINATIONS Winter Sun


Bestsellers: We ask three experts for their Canaries, Caribbean and Indian Ocean recommendations 42


Antigua: Snapshot of green list island 45


Costa del Sol: Benalmadena highlights 46 Europe


Cycling Holidays: Steer pedal-happy customers to these easy, moderate and challenging bike breaks 48


BUSINESS NEWS


Bowen predicts ‘difficult’ Atol renewals 54 Trailfinders urges rapid shift to trusts 54 Atipac warns government of pressures 55 Shapps urged to review air safeguards 55 Abta fears failures due to Atol reform 56


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 2 SEPTEMBER 2021 3 31


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