Special relationship with US continues A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Back in 2010, we sat down to think about ways to put our readers at the heart of our magazine – and Travel Weekly Cover Stars was born.
Since then, we’ve worked with a host of amazing partners to put
more than 100 fantastic agent Cover Stars on our front pages. It’s no coincidence that the past eight of these VIP trips have taken place in the US, which continues to be such a core destination for the UK market and is the focus of this week’s themed edition. And with Walt Disney World in Florida unveiled as the backdrop for
our 10th Cover Stars outing (page 34), this close affinity with America is set to continue. Despite challenges, including exchange rates, perceptions of the current administration and a reported reticence to
move from enquiry to booking (page 8), the market from the UK to the US has remained resilient in recent years and is projected to grow, with the trade playing a key role. While familiarity with some core cities makes them fairly straightforward direct-sells, expert agents can play a key role in encouraging their clients to experience the expanse of the US beyond the main gateways – and seize opportunities to boost their bottom lines. Of course, the key to that is product knowledge and training, and our Cover Stars sponsors, such as Disney and Gold Medal, are just some examples of the US specialists that continue to invest in agents and put them at the heart of their strategies. Long may those special relationships continue.
s
WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK
OAttended the Abta Travel Matters conference to hear from politicians, commentators and travel leaders on the state of the economy and our sector
OWas honoured to present the best agency accolade to Trailfinders at the Silver Travel Awards, for which T
ravel
Weekly is media partner
Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group SPECIAL EDITION CONTENTS US Round-up Virgin Pride Flight 8 10
Comment: Visit USA 16 News You Can Use 22 Agent Diary Your Stories Cover Stars
28 32 34
NEWS Agents ‘could be breaching PTRs’
Tourism Sector Deal ‘is game changer’ 4 Trade reacts to relaunch of Airtours Barrhead unveils staff talent system
6 Rowland elected; Cookes appointed 6
US Round-up: £99 deposits boost sales 8 Special reportS
Virgin Atlantic’s Pride Flight to NYC 10 Aspire’s Leaders of Luxury: Where is the Netflix of travel, asks Google head 12 AAAs: James Lewis, Holiday Extras
Competitions
Mystery Shopper Destinations
37 38
40-58
Comment Sarah Lax, Visit USA
NEWS YOU CAN USE Product
MSC Seashore, BA, Insight, Cook operator
19
TruTravels, Links Travel, Tauck, Bamboo 20 US news
Funway, Shearings, Norwegian, Kuoni 22 Cruise CroisiEurope, Scarlet Lady, NCL
24 FOLLOW US:
travelweekly.co.uk @travelweekly
14 16
4 5
OSpent a great day out in Whitstable on the Kent coast with friends, as the mercury hit 34C!
FRONTLINE Get Social
Brexit, Thomas Cook, Airtours, Abta 27 Agent Diary
Sarah Reeves: There’s always one your stories
28
Gavin Pillinger, Pillinger World Travel 32 Mystery Shopper Cambridge agents handed US test 38
DESTINATIONS The US
Chicago: Neighbourhoods Anaheim: Take in a game or two
40 47
Atlanta: Gateway to the Deep South 49 Washington: Wine, wildlife, wilderness 55
Charleston: Top tips for southern gem 58 Europe
Toulouse: Explore the city in 48 hours 61 Malta for families: Cook agent’s tips 66
BUSINESS NEWS One year on from launch of new PTRs: Lawyer Rhys Griffiths assesses impact 70 Abta reports £130m Atol sales in EU 72
travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 4 JULY 2019 3
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