Rising stars signpost a bright future A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


I am very fortunate in my job to have the chance to listen to many incredible speakers at events and conferences around the world. But rarely have I seen anyone connect with a room as broadcaster and author Clare Balding CBE did at Travel Weekly’s second Inspiring Women Rising Stars Lunch last week (page 5). Clare was everything you would expect – warm, intelligent and funny – and was the perfect speaker to inspire an audience spanning senior executives and those taking formative steps in their careers. Our Inspiring Women portfolio of events has gone from strength to


strength since it was introduced just three years ago and, following last year’s Rising Stars Lunch with Dame Kelly Holmes, this felt like another step forward.


While Clare offered star appeal, her speech and interview was really the icing on the cake


after a morning masterclass which featured a range of other incredible speakers from our hosts and partners Intrepid Travel, Hyatt International, News UK and Jovolution. This was the first time we had added masterclass sessions to the lunch and it was great for our younger guests to hear from female leaders from within the sector who spoke with such passion about how businesses benefit from diverse workforces and leadership teams. Clare was simply phenomenal, and so are the many executives and rising stars who were lucky enough to hear her speak. Looking around the room, I felt real pride in the event and, more importantly, real optimism about the people who are the future of our industry.


i Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS COVER star Northern Ireland travel


agency founder Maxine Bracewell poses for her


Cover Stars photoshoot in Paphos harbour, Cyprus page 30


Photo: Alex Maguire


Agents seek suppliers to plug Classic gap 4 Barrhead to unveil rebrand for peaks 4 Record figures but challenges ahead 5 USAirtours cruise launch; Play failure 6 Ex-Baldwins staff praise Premier Travel 8 conference ReportS InteleTravel Quest 2025, Porto


10


Atas Conference 2025: Six-page photo special from ICC Wales in Newport 12


comment Legal Q&A: Zero-hour contract laws 18


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Cosmos, Mercury, Just You, Inghams 21 Jules Verne, InsideJapan, Azamara 22 Marella, CroisiEurope, Seabourn


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OAttended the big unveiling of Disney’s new agent platform at Outernet in London with trade sales boss Torey Kings-Hodkin and TV presenter Joel Dommett.


OHosted a discussion between Holland America Line executives and their key UK trade partners at a lunch in Kent.


OFlew to Dubrovnik to moderate a panel discussion at the Barrhead Travel conference.


Agent diary


Colin Burns: Clients keep us laughing 26 competitions


Dubai, Maldives, Galápagos, Thailand 33


DESTINATIONS asia


Vietnam: Discover the varied charms of a trio of coastal resort cities – Hue, Hoi An and Da Nang 34


Twin-Centres: Upsell an Asia holiday by combining city stays with beach breaks 41 Japan: Ski and hot springs in Hokkaido 46 europe


Munich: Drink in the hoppy history of German beer – and much more – at city’s famous Oktoberfest


23


FRONTLINE caught on camera Industry Leaders’ Dinner, Manchester 24


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Steve Dunlop; Tamara Hinson; Gerardo Jaconelli; München Tourismus/Jan Saurer; Shutterstock/New Africa, Guitar photographer


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly BUSINESS NEWS


On the Beach’s Classic closure update 54 US tourism facing ‘$1bn a week hit’ 55 CAA starts consultation; Saga results 55 New Abta chair is a ‘choice of two’ 56


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 2 OCTOBER 2025 3 48


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