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INSIDE THIS


WEEK Contents


NEWS Hot Stories


Which? blasts misleading sales deals; Jet2holidays to fix ‘glitchy’ new website; Royal and Celebrity raise gratuity fees; EasyJet would oppose all-flights levy; Hays Travel strengthens cruise division


Round-up Abta trends report; Global Gatherings


One of five places on the two-day maiden sailing of NCL’s Norwegian Bliss page 48


WIN!


Special Reports Just a Drop supports school in Kenya


10


A-Rosa plans fam for agents and families 12 Review of turn-of-year ad campaigns Predictions: What’s in store for 2018


14 16


Talk Back TV ads; Egypt jailing; Derbyshire; CAA


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Cosmos, Classic Collection


21 08 04 23


Operator Travel 2, Airways Holidays, Pure 24 Cruise Voyages, Royal, Crystal, P&O Suppliers Bedswithease, A2Btransfers


28 32


FRONTLINE Comment Sharon Fleming: Data rules


t’s no coincidence that a probe by Which? into how holiday firms promote sales went public this week – just as the travel peaks campaigns got under way. On Saturday, The Times had “Travel firms dupe buyers with bogus cheap deals” emblazoned across its front page. “Ouch… not the best headline moving into 2018,” one


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Trust is an agent’s USP I


travel boss commented on Twitter. It would certainly be damaging if the travel industry


acquired a reputation for pulling the wool over consumers’ eyes, but as Abta points out, this isn’t the major issue it was made to appear. Any travel firm that sets out to mislead customers can’t


expect to get away with it for long, certainly not in the age of the internet, as prices are so transparent online. Ultimately, this comes down to trust – fortunately a


commodity that agents and operators trade on every day as their USP.


Sadly this point is always missing when these stories hit the


national press. The message to consumers seems to be to go online and check prices, as if this is some sort of panacea. Surely better advice would be to ask a trusted travel


expert.


Record-breaking Globes will be out of this world In a week’s time, 1,300 of you will join us to honour the very best suppliers in the industry at the annual Globe Travel Awards. What better way to kick off the year? And


what’s making it even more exciting this year is that we had a record number of votes cast by you, our readers. Good luck to everyone nominated – and here’s to a great night!


34


Readers’ Lives Cover Star Donna Bidwell 38 Mystery Shopper Tui wins in Watford


52 DESTINATIONS


Croatia & The Balkans Istria: Coastal and countryside character 55 Serbia: A country full of surprises


61 Canada


COVER STAR


Donna Bidwell is the first of our 2018 agents on a California road trip page 38


Indigenous Tourism: First Nations tours 65 48 Hours: Get a little extra in Halifax


69 BUSINESS


Travel Weekly Business Breakfast Mainstream margins tipped for pinch


80 WHAT


LUCY DID THISWEEK


Jan 4 1


2 3


Lucy Huxley Editor-in-chief @Lucy_Huxley


Read Tsunami Kids by Rob and Paul Forkan – I was inspired to find out more after interviewing the authors at last year’s Travel Convention.


Got the final alterations made to my dress ahead of next week’s Travel Weekly Globe Travel Awards! So excited.


Celebrated my son’s 12th birthday. Twelve?!!! How did that happen?!


4 January 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 3


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