Wildfires response shows trade’s worth A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
The wildfires in Rhodes at the start of the summer holidays were an unwanted challenge for travel companies and clearly a distressing experience for the holidaymakers and locals directly affected. Yet there was positive news this week with the swift resumption of
holidays to most resorts and a message from the island’s tourism sector that it was very much open for business (page 5).
Despite the inevitable clickbait headlines in the national media, the feedback from the industry was that the response of tour operators with a duty to support their customers had largely been prompt and effective. And as is so often the case, those who chose to travel with the
support of a travel agent or tour operator tended to be those who received the best possible support and care.
It is this message that agents will continue to reiterate as they meet with their local MPs following positive and effective lobbying by Advantage and Aito (page 4). And it is this care, professionalism and expertise that we are delighted to celebrate in this
week’s issue. You can check out our 17-page photo special showcasing the best of our industry at last month’s Agent Achievement Awards (pages 24-40). If that wasn’t enough, we are also delighted to be able to bring back our legendary Cover Stars competition by popular demand in partnership with Jet2holidays. You can read all about that on pages 12-13, and I can’t wait to showcase our 12 VIP winners on our front covers throughout next year.
Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group in association with CONTENTS NEWS
Abta praises trade’s Rhodes response 4 Agents welcome meetings with MPs
4
Demand for Greece ‘remains strong’ 5 New Crystal ships; Seaside expansion 6 Cunard fam bookings; Barrhead fams 8 Special Report
Cover stars 2024
Win a place on VIP trip to Montenegro – and grace our front page next year page 12
A&K heralds Crystal scope for growth 10 comment
Gordon McCreadie: AI can help us 14
NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Luxury Cottages, Jet2, Balkan, easyJet 17 Premier Holidays, Inghams Walking 18 Intrepid, Ramblers, Newmarket, Goa 20 Tui, SeaDream, Riviera, MSC, Royal 22
FRONTLINE agent diary
David Walker: Award is badge of trust 42 Your Stories
Magical Traveller’s Kieran Eccles-Miller 43 close-up
Best photos from recent agent events 44 competitions Antarctic cruise, Dubai trips and more 46
DESTINATIONS theme parks & Attractions Disneyland Paris: New show Together: A Pixar Musical Adventure proves a thrill 48
Florida: New space-themed attractions 54 indian ocean
Maldives: We compare two Sun Siyam resorts: Siyam World and Iru Fushi
59 Zanzibar: Emerald Zanzibar in focus 64 3 in association with
THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:
INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020
FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Shutterstock/Elesey, zieusin; Steve Dunlop
travelweekly.co.uk Your 17-page photo special starts on Page 24 FOLLOW US: @travelweekly
BUSINESS NEWS CAA forces Wizz to comply with rights 70 Results: IAG, Heathrow, Amadeus
71 travelweeklyuk
Report contests airport expansion case 72 @travelweeklyuk
3 AUGUST 2023 3
WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK
ORecorded a webcast with Explora Journeys’ Michael Ungerer and Antonio Paradiso as Explora 1 was due to finally depart on its delayed maiden voyage.
OTravelled from Athens to Mykonos, Patmos and Rhodes with Celestyal Cruises and quizzed boss Lee Haslett about the line’s plans.
OWas overwhelmed by a surprise 50th birthday party thrown byT
ravel Weekly
colleagues and travel friends. I cried!
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