Insightful events give cause for optimism A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


Travel Weekly held its first Industry Leaders’ Breakfast last week, bringing together 30 chief executives and managing directors from across the UK travel industry. They heard from Deloitte senior economist Debapratim De and discussed the findings of our 12th annual Travel Weekly Insight Report, produced in partnership with Deloitte and Service Science. In the context of recent data showing the UK fell into a mild


recession in the second half of last year, it was interesting to hear how strong demand was at that time but how sales patterns had appeared more erratic during February. Several senior figures suggested customers are holding on to their money longer, often forgoing payment plans that would allow them to pay in instalments


and waiting six to eight weeks before departure before committing. Should this trend continue, it could contribute to a strong lates market – but agents in the room urged suppliers to hold their prices to ensure they can still make good commission on last-minute deals. Equally upbeat were the 30 senior executives who attended Travel Weekly’s latest Inspiring


Women lunch. They heard from the government’s first menopause employment champion, Helen Tomlinson, appointed last year to engage with industry on improved support for menopausal women in the workplace (page 6). The number of women affected by the menopause who step down from their jobs or move into lesser roles because they aren’t supported is staggering. Tomlinson said she was encouraged by the steps many travel companies are taking. But in an industry still experiencing recruitment challenges, there must be scope for more to be done.


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


Budget ‘won’t avert careful spending’ 4 Agents riled by cruise rebooking trend 4 Industry predicts strong lates market


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Ann Jones (left) of Teithiau Menai Travel, pictured with a colleague, receives an award from The Travel Network Group page 26


Atol renewal call; menopause support 6 Cunard sales boost; Celebrity training 8 comment


Jamie Loizou: Fam trips are just the start 10


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product EasyJet holidays, Inghams, Landal, DSD 13 Leger Shearings, First Class Holidays 14 Great Rail, Pura Aventura, If Only Riviera Travel, SeaDream, A-Rosa


FRONTLINE agent diary


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Steve Dunlop; Tourism and Events Queensland; Shutterstock/altafulla, VDV; Teri Pengilley; Destination NSW/Jason Ierace


travelweekly.co.uk


Clare Dudley: Clients needing extra help 22 Cover Stars Your Co-op Travel’s Ravina Kaur on ‘amazing’ trip 26


FOLLOW US: @travelweekly close-up


Barrhead Travel, Teithiau Menai Travel 28 competitions Win trips to Norway, India, Antigua 30


DESTINATIONS australia


Road Trip: Amazing animals and extraordinary beaches abound on 570-mile route from Sydney to Brisbane 32


Food Trips: Festivals and flavours to whet the appetite of food-loving customers 37 Sports travel


16 18


Swan Hellenic, Seabourn, Ambassador 20


Lesser-known Golf Spots: Tee up your golf sales by recommending Northern Ireland, Turkey, Barbados 40


Solo Female Travellers: Five active trips 42


BUSINESS NEWS Abta Travel Finance Conference 2024: ›Travel spending ‘up 15% on 2019’ 46


›CAA cites ‘momentum’ for Atol reform 47 BA unveils £7bn ‘transformation’ plan 48


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 7 MARCH 2024 3


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OCaught up with Wendy Wu Tours, TTC Tour Brands and G Adventures to hear about their trade plans for 2024.


OWorked on my script for this weekend’s Clia RiverView Conference in Amsterdam, which I’m moderating. I’m thrilled that more than 450 agents are due to attend.


OWatched my daughter’s hockey team beat Guildford 8-1 on Sunday – much-needed after two straight defeats!


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