Public’s view of agents still needs revising A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


I have been writing for and about the travel industry for more than a quarter of a century and the thorny subject of school holiday pricing has been a recurring theme throughout that time. Indeed, one of the more surreal moments of my career was bumping into Peter Kay in a lift just moments before having to make the industry’s case in an ITV This Morning debate on the topic more than a decade ago. Over the past week, the job of correcting misperceptions fell to


Abta’s Sean Tipton and Henbury Travel’s Richard Slater, who appeared on BBC Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine show to address criticism not just of prices, but of “travel agents” who were deemed to be fleecing the public (page 4).


As the initial discussion that prompted their appearance highlighted,


the issue isn’t just about a fundamental misunderstanding of supply and demand and the seasonal nature of travel firms’ finances. It is also about a lack of knowledge of the structure of the industry – with the term “travel agents” used as a catch-all for anyone who sells or supplies holidays, and most others in the travel ecosystem. Pleas to eliminate misuse of the term are unlikely to be heeded, sadly, and as long as school


holidays remain largely concurrent for most families, this debate will continue to arise. But despite our shared frustration, that shouldn’t mean we should ever stop promoting the


reality that, far from being the bad guys, travel agents are actually the people best placed to make customers’ budgets stretch as far as possible.


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


Pricing row triggers call for awareness 4 Jet2 starts flights from Bournemouth


4


Payday prompts positive end to peaks 5 LA Tourism hopes; Barrhead outlook 6 A-Rosa boss’s Sahara race; Tui praise 8 Special Report


COVER star


Hays Travel’s Ruth Norris poses by Aphrodite’s Rock in Paphos, Cyprus page 32


Photo: Alex Maguire


Aito urges members to boost their NPS 10 comment


Legal Q&A: Setting up a business? 14


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Titan, Just Go, Vueling, easyJet holidays 17 Newmarket Holidays, Jet2CityBreaks 18 Ambassador, Windstar, AE Expeditions 20


FRONTLINE agent diary


Colin Burns: Here’s to a steadier month 28 Close-up


Quark Expeditions visits Adore Cruises, and more 30


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Phillip Ennis Photography; Steve Dunlop; Karl Rabe; Rob Burnett; Shutterstock/Sergey Novikov, SergZSV.ZP


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DESTINATIONS The US


New York: Give clients a taste of the Roaring Twenties with our guide to Great Gatsby-era attractions 38


Louisiana: Taste the real Deep South 43 Attractions: New openings this year 49 active & adventure


Tasmania: The wukalina Walk is one of a growing number of Aboriginal-led experiences for visitors 50


Sailing: Take the helm with experts’ tips 57


BUSINESS NEWS Travlaw Big Tent Event 2025: ›Sales growth in ‘lates and adventure’ 62


›Employment law; AI; customer loyalty 63 Analysis: Heathrow faces many hurdles 64


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 6 FEBRUARY 2025 3


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OHad a great couple of days on the slopes at the Cruise.co.uk ski conference, with representatives from various cruise lines.


ORecorded a webcast with Jet2 chief Steve Heapy as he launched a new base at Bournemouth and discussed the outlook for the year ahead.


OThrew a baby shower for Aspire editor Hollie-Rae Brader, who’s off on maternity leave soon to welcome her second baby!


Cover Stars


Ruth Norris on Jet2holidays VIP trip 30 competitions Two pages packed with top prizes


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