Agents buoyed by ‘best sales days in long time’


Juliet Dennis


Agents have reported some of their best sales days in months as optimism about travel this summer increases. Retailers said growing public


confidence in the last week had led to a “definite shift” in bookings and enquiries for this year, which they expect to continue following the announcement of the government’s ‘green list’ this week. Hays Travel noted “a significant


shift towards more bookings for 2021” last week compared with previous weeks when more bookings were for 2022 onwards. The agency said enquiry levels


were “particularly high” last week. Almost half (46%) of bookings by Hays’ homeworkers were for 2021 compared with 33% through its shops. Similarly, The Advantage


Travel Partnership reported 40% of members’ sales last week were for 2021. Leisure director Kelly Cookes said: “Summer 2021 is definitely making a comeback.” Miles Morgan Travel enjoyed its


best Saturday in “a really long time” over the bank holiday weekend after its best week’s trading in months. Chairman Miles Morgan said: “I’m expecting business to build week on


Steve Witt


40%


Proportion of Advantage members’ sales last week for 2021


week as people get more confident.” Not Just Travel’s sales over the


bank holiday weekend were double the previous weekend. Last Friday (April 30) was the homeworking company’s busiest day since February 26, and 42% of bookings last week were for summer 2021. Co-founder Steve Witt said: “It’s


more about the deals than it is the ‘green list’.” Witt said the company was


Classic Collection recruits two regional sales managers


Classic Collection Holidays has recruited two regional sales managers and promoted Jo Moran (pictured) to trade support manager.


Martin Page will cover the northeast and central regions. Jorge Quibell will cover the southwest and the Channel Islands.


6 6 MAY 2021


Gemma Antrobus


Miles to come Morgan


preparing for a surge in last-minute bookings when the list is announced. Haslemere Travel owner Gemma


Antrobus also anticipated busier trading as May 17 approaches. “There are so many people hanging on for this [travel restart],” she said. A survey of 350 of the agency’s


clients in January showed 69% planned to travel again when restrictions were lifted. She added: “I’m sure if we revisited that now, the figure would be higher.” But Polka Dot director Mark


Johnson cautioned there was “still a long way to go” to get sales back to normal levels. He said: “We need consumer confidence to increase and the only way this will happen is to let people travel again and to hear their stories when they return.”


Abta’s Rachel Jordan promoted to take on membership role


Abta has promoted Rachel Jordan (pictured) to director of membership and financial protection, with responsibility for member integration


and management. Long-time financial protection director John de Vial is moving to a role focused on “delivery of Abta’s strategic plan”.


CAA seeks industry feedback on plans for Atol reform


The CAA has proposed moving Atol-holders to trust or similar arrangements, with varying rates of Atol Protection Contribution (APC). An Atol reform consultation,


launched last week, confirms the CAA’s intention to ensure customer payments are segregated by businesses, although it could allow “partial segregation”. The APC on bookings could


change from the current £2.50 to a variable rate depending on the extent to which customer money is segregated and on the ‘risk’ a company poses. It could also reflect the value of a booking. An industry source suggested


the proposals would produce “a Marmite response” from the sector as segregating payments “would be challenging for many businesses”, but said: “The CAA is looking to drive businesses away from funding operations with customer money.” A follow-up consultation is


expected early next year, with the transition to a new system set to take 12 months to two years, depending on what is


decided. i Full coverage,


page 40 i Get Social, page 27


Hays Travel signs deal to offer customers PCR tests for £45


Hays Travel is offering PCR tests to customers for £45 after signing a deal with Assured Screening. The £45 postal test is one of three options that can be booked in branch. Hays also offers an appointment within an hour’s drive for £55 and a same-day test for £140. Hays said it is making no profit on sales of testing kits.


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