Industry ramps up political activity Ian Taylor


Trade bodies aimed to hit the ground running in approaching the government as Parliament returned this week. Abta reported it is working


with government departments on communications to the industry and consumers on the EU Entry Exit System (EES) to be introduced in November and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (Etias) due to follow in mid-2025. The association is also working


to reconstitute the all-party Parliamentary group (APPG) of MPs on aviation, travel and aerospace and consulting on a Budget submission. Abta director of public affairs


Luke Petherbridge said: “We’ve heard quite a bit from the government about its priorities, including the state of the public finances. “A big focus for us with the


Budget will be making the case for how travel can support the government’s growth agenda and what we need to do that – including youth mobility arrangements with EU countries, business rates reform and a competitive APD regime.” He described Abta as “reaching


out to MPs across all parties for meetings in Westminster, in constituencies and at the upcoming party conferences” and said Abta would support conference events put on by the Sustainable Aviation coalition as well as attend the


Travelpack aims for record sales with new bookable site


Juliet Dennis


Travelpack is to unveil a new trade website with access to an expanded product range as it plots further growth following its recent acquisition. In July, the operator bought


the business and assets of Infinity Media Promotions, which trades under various names, including Infinity Tours, a Latin America specialist, and travel websites such as Infinitycruises.co.uk. Travelpack managing director


Vishal Patel said the deal would help to improve product on Travelpack’s website, due to be relaunched later


6 5 SEPTEMBER 2024


this year in time for the 2025 peak sales period. A major element of the revamp


will be the introduction of bookable tailor-made cruise packages and rail for the first time, plus an expanded range of accommodation with the addition of at least eight bed banks. The addition of cruise will enable


agents to put together a cruise with a land stay and flights as a package bookable online. Patel said: “It’s something agents


want; there is a percentage of agents who want to package holidays themselves. They will be able to dynamically package cruises, and rail will be bookable online for the


A big focus for us with the Budget will be making the case for how travel can support the growth agenda


business day at the Labour Party Conference. Petherbridge insisted: “It’s


important we work as an industry to put forward a collective voice. We met with our Future Travel Coalition partners post-election and will be catching up again later this month, and I’ll be getting together with colleagues from the aviation bodies next week.” The UK Outbound Travel Group


set up by The Advantage Travel Partnership, Aito and Abtot will host an industry-wide meeting in London on September 16 to discuss a set of policy initiatives. Advantage chief executive Julia Lo


Bue-Said said: “We expect about 30 executives to attend. The intention is to recruit new group members and to amplify the voice of the sector, to emphasise the industry brings economic and social prosperity. We’re not an exporter. We export people, but they spend here before going abroad.” Lo Bue-Said added: “The new


government gives us an opportunity. I don’t want to sit down with a minister or policymaker and them not understand how outbound travel contributes to UK economic growth.”


Rio de Janeiro, Brazil


Vishal Patel


first time. We’ll also add suppliers to our accommodation search while improving the search functionality.” Patel said the site would offer


location-based searches for holidays or accommodation in a certain location or postcode. “You could put in a postcode or


landmark or wherever your client wants to be. No one else in the market has got this,” he said. Patel said the company could


now tap into a bigger cruise product range and look to expand tailor- made product in Latin America through its Travelpack brand. “The goal is to keep growing. They [Infinity] have a really good


team; they know cruise products inside and out,” he said, but stressed the acquired company would operate independently with no job cuts. Patel added: “The deal is more of


a merger than an acquisition. They are plugging a gap we have. It’s a nice fit for both companies.” Travelpack is on target to turn


over £85 million this year, said Patel, who is determined to surpass the £100 million mark in the near future. He said: “I want to break my dad’s


[chairman Ashok Patel] record in 2025-26; he did £102 million while he was still in the business.” Patel did not rule out further


acquisitions. travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Diego Grandi


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