All signs point to another strong year A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
I didn’t have the opportunity to watch much television over the festive period, but nevertheless I was struck by the number of times I heard a travel advert playing as I passed by a screen or tablet. Looking back 12 months, a sense of trepidation remained about whether the peak selling period would deliver as it had done prior to the pandemic. But as we head into 2024, there is a bullishness that last year’s strong early sales can be matched, if not bettered, in the coming months (page 5). As always, caution is the watchword, with an awareness of how quickly global events can swing consumer sentiment. But despite some coverage of weather and strike-related disruption over Christmas and New Year, the headlines were largely free of the
types of stories likely to dent clients’ desire to secure their escapes to the sun. As I have written before, a focus on margin will be more crucial than ever this year, with the biggest Atol holders piling on capacity and the cruise sector also gearing up to welcome more ships. And for those selling products available around the world, an early-booking call-to-action will be leant more weight by pressure on prices and availability from growing demand in other markets (page 6). The Travel Weekly team and I are currently putting the final touches together for next week’s
Globe Travel Awards. With the room a sell-out, it is set to be a fitting fanfare for what we hope will be another strong year. We wish you all a happy and prosperous 2024.
Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS
NEWS Kuoni parent acquires Solmar Villas
4 COVER Star Luke Nicol at the Iberostar
Slavija hotel, Montenegro, on Cover Stars trip headline- sponsored by Jet2holidays page 26
Photo: Steve Dunlop
Japan earthquake ‘won’t affect tours’ 4 Trade eyes ‘bumper’ sales in January 5 ‘Change refund rules’; Clia warning 6 Apprentices boost; agency buys tech firm 8 comment
Amanda Matthews: Fams must pay off 10 Special Report
Turn-of-year TV ads review: marketing expert Steve Dunne assesses the offerings of seven travel suppliers 12
NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Jet2holidays, Ryanair, BA CityFlyer 17 Classic, Latin Routes, Riviera, Just Go 18 Scenic, Cunard, MSC, Silversea, HAL 22
THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:
INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020
FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Shutterstock/Alexandr Vorobev, Savvapanf Photo, altafulla; Steve Dunlop
travelweekly.co.uk
FRONTLINE agent diary Colin Burns: My January survival kit 28
FOLLOW US: @travelweekly close-up
Fams and events from Egypt to Oxford 29 competitions Cash in with Celebrity’s £50k incentive 30
DESTINATIONS touring & adventure Argentina: Combine the intoxicating attractions of Buenos Aires with the beauty of Patagonia for a stunning adventure trip 32
Selling Tips: Target mature customers 39 Winter: Wildfire tours in cooler months 43 canada
Road Trips: From Niagara Falls to Newfoundland, a self-drive holiday lets visitors see just what they want 46
BUSINESS NEWS
AAC responds to plans for PTRs reform 54 ‘Existing protection options adequate’ 54 Comment: Steve Endacott on AI uses 55 Aviation’s SAF claims ‘are greenwash’ 56
travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 4 JANUARY 2024 3
WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK
ORecorded a webcast with Jamie Loizou of AmaWaterways about the river cruise operator’s plans for the wave season and the rest of 2024.
OWrote citations for some of the special award winners at next week’s Globe Travel Awards – only a week to go till the biggest night in travel!
OCelebrated my son’s 18th birthday. Arrggghh! How has my little boy suddenly become an adult?
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