Don’t let lockdown ruin your resolution A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


The stricter lockdowns in England and the devolved nations, though not unexpected, came as a New Year blow to an industry targeting a serious restart by late spring. While there was limited travel anticipated in the coming months, the ongoing uncertainty serves to keep the handbrake on consumer confidence for forward bookings, and an anchor on progress towards the resumption of the cruise sector (page 12). The announcements prompted renewed demands for tailored support for the industry, and there were also calls for Atol cover for newly-issued refund credit notes to be extended alongside the chancellor’s fresh grants package to keep some of the most pressing cash pressures at bay (page 5). Despite ‘Lockdown 3’, the turn of year wasn’t devoid of hope, with


research pointing to pent-up demand (page 4) and positivity around the rollout of vaccines. Normally at this time of year, we would be preparing to welcome more than 1,200 guests to our Globe Travel Awards to celebrate the partnerships that underpin our industry. While this year’s event sadly can’t take place, we will still celebrate those relationships this month with a virtual evening of rewards and prizes, which you can learn more about on page 8. Last year, many readers with retail premises switched delivery of Travel Weekly to their homes


to ensure they didn’t miss out. If you would like to do the same in light of the fresh restrictions, email travelweekly@subscriptionhelpline.co.uk with your account number and new address to ensure we can continue to inform, inspire, support and connect you in the crucial months ahead.


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


dedicated web pages to support you


go.travelweekly.co.uk/ webcasts


Webcasts Resource Centre


go.travelweekly.co.uk/ resources


Restart & Recovery Hub travelweekly.co.uk/ restart-recovery


T ravel Weekly’s


Agents bullish despite slow bookings 4 Consumer survey shows strong demand 4 Lockdowns trigger fresh cancellations 5 Dame Irene Hays; Butch Stewart tributes 6 Brexit deal; Abta campaign; agent theft 7


Register for the Globe Travel Rewards 8 Special reports


Interview: Julia Lo Bue-Said on 25 years 10 Cruise: Experts on efforts to spur restart 12 Bourne: why do brands quit the trade? 17 Comment: Jacqueline Dobson, Barrhead 18


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product


Gold Medal, Carrier, SoCo, Olympic 23 MSC, Princess, Cruise Plus, Fred Olsen 24


FRONTLINE agent diary


Clare Dudley: The gift I’d give is belief 26 Your Stories


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


FRONT COVER PICTURES: Shutterstock; North News & Pictures; Joe Chua Agdeppa


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US:


Karen Simmonds on her push for sustainable tourism 29


@travelweekly


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OSpoke to all our 2020 Globes sponsors about supporting a virtual event to reward agents in place of the real thing later this month.


OWelcomed back my team after a good break over Christmas and New Year, all re-energised for the year ahead.


OStarted home- schooling my two kids – again!


Competitions


Win a holiday in Dubai with Emirates 32 Get Social


Trust accounts, Irene Hays, Westoe


DESTINATIONS spain & portugal


Middle East


Madeira: Find out how the Atlantic isle has broadened its appeal to a younger market with soft adventure and top-end cuisine


35


36


Dubai: Your guide to eight of the best new hotels, from the architecturally stunning Atlantis, The Royal to the quirky Rove La Mer


BUSINESS NEWS


Travel Weekly Insight Report debate: ‘Carriers are left to bank on summer’ 46 Captive insurance proposal for airlines 47 Bowen and Photi discuss trust accounts 47 ‘Vaccine just part of armoury we need’ 48


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 7 JANUARY 2021 3


40


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52