business Essential news, comment and analysis Industry experts


acknowledge “tough times” on the high street


but “see a big opportunity for travel agents selling differentiated holidays that are more specialised”


‘High street is challenging but specialists can thrive’


Industry experts assess outlook for travel retail ahead of next week’s Barclays Travel Forum. Lee Hayhurst reports


High street travel agents are not expected to be immune from the challenges being experienced by other retail sectors, according to experts lined up for this year’s Barclays Travel Forum.


The annual conference will


focus on the economy and the travel sector’s prospects, and organisers invited industry bosses to Barclays’ HQ in Canary Wharf to record their views on video ahead of next week’s event. They were asked about the


future of the high street following a slew of poor sales and footfall


72 travelweekly.co.uk 3 May 2018


data for retailers in the first quarter of 2018. This has seen recent high-profile collapses of retailers such as Toys R Us and Maplin, and reports of problems at House of Fraser, Debenhams and restaurant chains including Jamie’s Italian. Martin Alcock, director of The


Travel Trade Consultancy, said: “The high street has got a lot of challenges. Look at retail in general: there have been lots of profits warnings.” Alcock said travel had parallels with the restaurant sector, which


has seen “untrammelled growth” in recent years, attracting a lot of investment from private equity. “What we’re left with, as a


result, is a high street full of mediocrity with lots to choose from but nothing that’s that different from everything else,” he said. “Firms are paying down debt and only making money if they generate bigger cashflows.” Alcock pointed out that consumer data has also shown a drop in e-commerce spending, and he saw a future for high street retailers that offer quality advice and service. Paul Carter, chief executive of


Inghams parent Hotelplan UK, agreed. He said: “The high street


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