Media sensationalism is never helpful A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


I often forward national media articles to Travel Weekly’s editorial team – sometimes if I think there’s a good story to be found or a hook for a brilliant feature, and sometimes as I think the coverage is likely to affect our readers in some way. I’ll often add a comment when I pass the articles on, and on a message last week that comment was simply: “Here we go again.” The article in question was a report about a wildfire in a popular holiday destination, which of course would always be something the travel trade would be keen to stay abreast of. However, as is so often the case, the headline and article were


peppered with phrases such as “tourists evacuated”, “emergency services scramble” and “holiday warning” – and those phrases really


didn’t reflect the situation on the ground. Of course, the topic of rising temperatures in destinations and the knock-on effects they can


have are valid and crucial topics of discussion, with the Safer Travel Foundation issuing a report on preparedness just this week. But as with that other summer headline staple – “travel chaos” – sadly a lot of these attention-grabbing stories don’t stand up to scrutiny once you dig a bit deeper. As always, the Travel Weekly team will do our best to cover stories like these in an objective fashion and in a way that paints an accurate picture of the reality behind the headlines. But based on the coverage before peak season even kicks in, it seems likely the trade will have to brace itself for another summer of sensationalism.


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS Baldwins hearing date rescheduled 4


Advantage to boost AtolPlus offering 4 Discounts fuel ‘amazing’ late bookings 5 Aito financial plans; dnata US sales up 6 Welsh agency’s deal; McAuley to WTH 8 comment


COVER photo


Pictured at Carden Park, Cheshire, last week are,


from left: Darren Vurnum, Escape Worldwide; Sats Poonian, Experfly; Polly Poulton, TTC; Karen Fletcher, Gold Medal;


Catherine Finlan, Barrhead Travel; and Deborah Phillips, Quinton Travel page 6


Photo: Dean Rossiter Photography Steve Dunne: Tipping holds back cruise 10


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Jules Verne, SunExpress, Tui, Sandals 13 Exodus Adventure Travels, Contiki


FRONTLINE AAAs 2025 preview Simon Applebaum, Gold Medal


The Hotlist 2025 Four-page photo special from awards event


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Dollywood/Steven Bridges; Shutterstock/CrackerClips Stock Media, MilanMarkovic78; Steve Dunlop


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OSpent a brilliant couple of days in Cheshire with suppliers and 90- plus agents at Gold Medal’s Big Day Out.


OHad a great time filming with Lee Haslett and Janet Parton for the upcoming ‘Celestyal Summer School’ webinars, featuring a fabulous prize!


OLoved having my daughter’s friends round to get ready for their Year 11 prom – they all looked absolutely beautiful!


Atas Summit


Photos from annual forum in London 25 Your stories Gemma Outram, Not Just Travel franchisee


competitions Flights, fam, double points and more 30


DESTINATIONS The US


14 HAL, G Adventures, AE Expeditions 16 Florida: Discover the rolling dunes and


Tennessee: Dollywood, arty villages and the Great Smoky Mountains are just some of the state’s attractions beyond Nashville


26


32


varied wildlife of Panama City Beach 39 California: Your guide to Placerville, a Gold Rush gem awash with history 44


18 20


agent diary Clare Dudley: Learning from each other 24


BUSINESS NEWS


Tui in equity swap with Swiss operator 46 Ectaa welcomes revised PTD proposals 46 Climate committee flags emissions rise 47 Analysis: Uncertainties cloud demand 48


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 3 JULY 2025 3


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