Peaks is a positive amid global unease A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


Travel adverts came to the fore once again over the festive period and the trade will be hoping the upbeat marketing activity sowed the seeds for a positive peaks (page 12). Yet, as so often seems to be the case, the start of the year presented some challenges for agents and operators, with a tech outage causing Greek airspace to close and freezing winter conditions impacting services at key European airports including Amsterdam’s Schiphol. The most concerning of the early-year headlines related to Donald


Trump’s decision to intervene forcefully in Venezuelan politics, with charter aircraft bound for the Caribbean forced to turn back due to airspace warnings and cruise ports also impacted (page 4). The move by the US government seems certain to have ramifications


on a global scale but, with veiled threats made to other nations in the region, it will be of most immediate concern to travel businesses with a focus on Central and South America. Despite the volatile start to the year, there were notes of positivity, with the cold snap and


wintry conditions at home undoubtedly prompting customers to dream of sunnier climes (page 5). The trade also received a timely boost, with consumer association Which? releasing feedback


from its members that offered a wholehearted endorsement of booking through ‘traditional’ agents (page 6).


It is clear the economic and geopolitical rollercoaster of 2025 isn’t suddenly going to turn into a gentle merry-go-round in 2026, but there remain many reasons to be positive for the year ahead.


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


CMA targets trade with new powers 4 Operators assess impact of US action 4 Values rise in promising start to peaks 5 Which? lists top agents; Abta to elect chair 6 Agent books mystery trip; HAL incentive 8 Special Report


COVER photo Althams Travel manager


Liz Walton poses at Ribeira da Janela on her ‘amazing’ trip to Madeira. Liz is the first of 12 Cover Stars who will grace the front pages


of T


ravel Weekly this year. page 28


Photo: Thomas Reader


Marketing expert Steve Dunne reviews eight TV ads – and declares one marks a ‘step up’ in standard 12


comment Finance Q&A: Get savvy with savings 14


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Jet2holidays, Undiscovered Destinations 15 Intrepid Travel, Newmarket Holidays 16 MSC Cruises, Crystal Serenity


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OWas excited to come back to work and see all my lovely colleagues after the Christmas break.


ODrove through the snow into deepest East Sussex to pick up my dress for next week’s Globe Travel Awards. Can’t wait to see all of you who will be joining us on the night!


ODid the ‘Race Across The World’ experience in London with my son over the Christmas break. It was brilliant! Highly recommend.


cover stars Liz Walton, Althams Travel


competitions Win hotels, flights, Athens and NZ trips 31


DESTINATIONS Food & Drink TV Tie-ins: As Ainsley Harriott and Rick Stein highlight the Bahamas and Australia, find out how to turn culinary inspiration into bookings 33


escorted tours Costa Rica: A guided trip is the perfect way to take in the country’s rainforests, beaches and wildlife


19


FRONTLINE agent diary Clare Dudley: Will peaks prep pay off? 24


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Steve Dunlop; James Bailey; Shutterstock/ Alfredo Maiquez, Authentic travel, noamgalai, 4 PM production; James Bailey


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly


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New Tours: New touring destinations 46 Ghana: Q&A with a Jules Verne guide 50


›Association weighs action over delays 54 ›Walsh calls for review of SAF pricing 55 ›‘Hand luggage hinders evacuations’ 56


BUSINESS NEWS Iata Global Media Day, Geneva:


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 8 JANUARY 2026 3


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