Let’s hope Budget doesn’t hit momentum A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
I had conversations with a number of small-business owners in the travel industry this week about last week’s Budget, and a handful really brought the impact into sharp focus. While there is an understanding that there is an urgent need to
source the funds to fix essential services such as a creaking NHS, there was a real frustration about how the latest announcements could hold back growth and stifle the economy. One owner said they were having to work out how to deliver planned pay rises for staff, having considered the impact of the rise in national insurance on 2025 budgets. Others said expansion plans were now on hold while they weighed the effect of the changes in tax and living wage on their projected bottom lines.
There has been considerable optimism in the industry over the past couple of years, and
people’s intent to travel still seems largely strong. But any prudent business owner or director will be planning for all contingencies, so it is to be hoped they can all plot a path which allows for these extra costs without undermining the momentum developed since the pandemic (page 5). While businesses will understandably be looking close to home as they assess the Budget, the industry will also have been viewing with deep sadness the events unfolding overseas in the past week (page 4). The images emerging from Spain have been truly shocking, and I’m sure all those in the travel trade will join me in sending support and condolences to our many friends and colleagues in the UK’s number-one destination.
co Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS
COVER star Stewart Travel agent
Jessica Gilmour poses in Kotor on VIP trip
supported by Jet2holidays page 26
Photo: Steve Dunlop
Jail term for former Baldwins director 4 Spanish floods spur trade relief efforts 4 Businesses divided over Budget’s impact 5 Inside Travel deal; P&O Cruises flights 6 Tui wins award; Silver Travel plans shop 8 Special Report
SPAA Travel Awards 2024, Glasgow 10 comment
Gemma Antrobus: Get set for changes 14
NEWS YOU CAN USE Product
Jet2, easyjet holidays, Inghams, Gulf 17 Premier Holidays, Wendy Wu Tours 18 Quark, Swan Hellenic, MSC, Celebrity 20
FRONTLINE caught on camera Sue Barker is ace guest at Inspiring Women Lunch 23
Agent diary Sharon Thompson: Santorini was bliss 24
FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: South African Tourism; Sarah Lucy Brown; Steve Dunlop; Shutterstock/Photo Spirit, Fernando Astasio Avila, Fred Duval, Richard z
travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly close-up
Photos from Leeds, Southampton, Spain 30 competitions Win one of five £170 advent calendars 32
DESTINATIONS aviation
New Routes: Your guide to seven hot new UK links: Tbilisi, Djerba, Nashville (pictured), Jerez, Dubai, Narvik and Toronto
Training: Meet the cadets on track to become the Tui pilots of tomorrow africa
WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK
OCaught up with the Universal team at World Travel Market to hear more about the incredible new Epic Universe park.
OSigned off the final pages for our Globe Travel Awards shortlist supplement – make sure you grab it with next week’s edition.
OWas overwhelmed by messages of support after my mum lost her long and brave fight with cancer. Thank you all so much.
36 45
South Africa: Find out why the country deserves its reputation for game viewing and cultural immersion 48
BUSINESS NEWS
Responsible tourism centre launched 54 Results: Ryanair, Booking, Lufthansa 54 Cruise groups post record Q3 figures 55 Firms assess impact of Budget tax rises 56
travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 7 NOVEMBER 2024 3
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 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60
