Firms told to avoid ‘tick box’ wellbeing pledges


Juliet Dennis


Travel companies have been warned to avoid “tick-box exercises” in relation to staff wellbeing to boost recruitment and retention efforts. Inspire Europe managing director


Lisa Henning said her business had carried out a full assessment and implemented a number of practical changes to support staff, but she claimed many travel company bosses were “talking the talk but not walking the walk” on the subject. Henning stressed it was vital that


issues such as diversity, inclusion and mental health were properly addressed by senior staff. “It’s very important all of this


comes from the top – from the bosses and shareholders. It’s pointless doing all this if we are not aligned,” she said. “Some initiatives in the industry


are done as tick-box exercises; people talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. “It is still a huge challenge and,


from an industry point of view, more companies have to get on board.” At Inspire Europe, a staff survey


on wellbeing has resulted in inhouse training on diversity and inclusion for all senior managers. Henning said: “What’s come to


light is we need to invest in training. We realised our diversity, inclusion


Iata doubles prediction for


sector’s profits in 2023 to $9.8bn Iata has more than doubled its forecast for the sector’s profits in 2023. Airline industry net profits are expected to reach $9.8 billion this year, compared with a forecast of $4.7 billion made in December 2022. Iata said this represented a 1.2% net profit margin. About 4.35 billion people are expected to take flights in 2023 – just 4% fewer than the pre-pandemic figure in 2019.


8 8 JUNE 2023


Bosses talk the talk but don’t walk the walk when it comes to wellbeing


and equality policy was not where it needed to be so we’re in the process of making it much wider.” The survey has also led to a return


to more traditional recruitment methods to attract older employees, with the Chester-based firm placing job advertisements in local newspapers and community publications. Henning added: “We have some


work to do when it comes to the older generation. We want to attract more older staff. At the moment 99%


Inspire Europe’s Lisa Henning has overseen a staff survey on wellbeing


of our recruitment is online. We did a poll asking customers where they look for a job; some prefer to look at the job section in a local newspaper.” The tour operator and


homeworking agency introduced a wellness programme to support its 55 head office and call centre staff with physical, mental and financial wellbeing last year and is running employee events every month. Earlier this year, the company


introduced benefits including more annual leave, up from 22 to 25 days a year, and enhanced sickness, maternity, paternity, family, adoption and bereavement leave policies. Henning noted the moves were


already helping with recruitment and staff loyalty and retention.


Eurostar’s Amsterdam link set to be suspended for 10 months


Eurostar’s direct service from London to Amsterdam and Rotterdam looks likely to be suspended from June 2024 to April 2025, due to renovation work at the Dutch capital’s Centraal station. The cross-Channel rail company currently operates four departures per day in each direction.


Trade pays tributes to former Thomson boss Roger Davies


Tributes have been paid to former Thomson Travel Group chairman and Airtours director Roger Davies following his death, aged 78. Davies joined Thomson in 1969


as a marketing executive. He stayed at the company until 1990, becoming group chief executive and chairman. Wife Adele, whom he met at


Thomson, said: “What mattered to Roger more than anything was to give good-quality holidays.” He was integral to Thomson’s


takeover of Horizon Travel in 1988 and the growth of retailer Lunn Poly. Davies, described as a “true


gentleman” and “great role model”, has been credited with turning Thomson into the market leader. He was at Airtours from 1994


until 2000, serving as chairman of Going Places, and in 1996 was honoured by the British Travel & Hospitality Industry Hall of Fame. Ex-Tui Travel managing director


Dermot Blastland said: “He was the best boss I worked for and the driving force behind what Tui UK is today.” Silversea Cruises UK managing


director Peter Shanks said: “He was instrumental in Going Places’ creation. I learnt so much from him.” Davies


died on May 28. Spending on air travel last month


34% higher than in May 2022 Year-on-year spending on air travel soared by 34% during May, according to the Barclays Consumer Spending Index. The report also revealed that year-on-year expenditure through agents rose by almost 10% last month, with the number of transactions up by almost 20% as overseas travel continued to buck wider trends. Overall, consumer card spending grew 3.6% in May.


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