Trade events will showcase resilience A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


I am writing this week’s column as I prepare to attend two events that remind us the travel industry is well and truly back in business, despite the headwinds it faces. First, I’ll be travelling to Warwickshire for the biggest Atas Conference in the association’s six-year history. I’ll then be heading to Birmingham airport to fly to Scotland for the annual SPAA Awards. Both these events will be brilliant showcases of the travel trade and of the agents and operators who are working together in the face of some undeniable and daunting challenges, and Travel Weekly is proud to be involved with both.


Amid all the negative headlines in the national media, it would be easy to be downbeat about the outlook for the travel sector, yet I have


no doubt the mood I’ll experience this week will be one of determination and hope. The past two years have proven the ability of the industry to roll with the punches, and there are historical precedents for its ability to emerge strongly from challenging times. There is certainly no room for blind optimism, and the sad demise of trade favourite Belleair


Holidays this week is another reminder of the pressure the industry is facing (page 6). Yet there is still demand for the services of travel professionals and suppliers who can help


customers navigate their own challenges and escape increasingly bruising financial realities to enjoy precious holidays with friends and family. Times are undeniably tough, but I have no doubt that my experiences this week will further bolster my faith in our readers’ ability to navigate them.


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


NEWS Trade bodies highlight travel’s value


4


Heathrow warns of festive capacity cap 4 Sales robust despite expected tax rises 5 Trade sadness for Belleair; Classic logos 6 Stuba upgrades site; Perl joins start-up 8 Special Reports


Store visit


Sandals’ Neil Read (second right) pops into Honeymoon Dreams in Birmingham page 26


Royal’s Icon of the Seas launch, Miami 10 Travolution Start-up Summit, London 12 comment


Jacqueline Dobson: Steps to go green 14


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Ryanair, Syte, Princess, Luxair, BA


Close-up


Travel Weekly Inspiring Women Lunch 32 Cover Stars


Toni Walker, formerly Limavady Travel 34 Get Social EasyJet holidays, Belleair, APT, Tui


37


DESTINATIONS All-inclusive holidays Hotels & Resorts: Gourmet food, premium drinks, spa treatments – all-inclusives have upped their game 38


Spain: Club Med Magna Marbella 44 Africa


15


G Adventures, National Holidays, Leger 16 Royal, Hurtigruten, Variety, Star Clippers 22


FRONTLINE agent diary


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Shutterstock/NadyaEugene, Nate Hovee; Steve Dunlop; Studiovd.gr; Fiona Hanson


travelweekly.co.uk


Helen Parry: Be proud of role as agent 28 competitions


FOLLOW US:


Win Shine points, Qatar trips, wine 32 @travelweekly


Rwanda: The mountain gorilla population is booming as wildlife tourism boosts conservation efforts 46


BUSINESS NEWS A World for Travel Forum, Nîmes:


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OHosted a Travel Weekly Executive Dinner with Royal Caribbean International’s Bert Hernandez and Ben Bouldin, and 20 fantastic agents.


ORecorded a webcast with Arzu Yilmaz from Go Türkiye, fresh from Bodrum being announced as the host for Abta’s Travel Convention next year.


OThrew a Halloween party for my daughter and her friends, with pumpkin carving and trick-or-treating!


›Call for carbon data standardisation 54 ›Travellers ‘must pay for green travel’ 55 ›’Intervention could unlock investment’ 56


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 3 NOVEMBER 2022 3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60