NEWS


GOOD FRIDAY FAMILY FUN: Holland America Line and industry support group Back in Time for Bed hosted their first joint family ship visit on Good Friday. The event was designed for working parents in the travel industry and welcomed more than 20 professionals from the trade, along with more than 30 of their children, on Rotterdam while it was docked in Southampton. Attendees started the day with a meet-and-greet with captain Eric Barhorst and Lewie the Lion, official mascot for the cruise line, followed by an Easter egg hunt around the ship, activities in the Kids Club and lunch in the Lido Market. All children were gifted with branded goodies including a chocolate Lindt bunny. Back in Time for Bed was set up by Riviera Travel director of trade and partnerships for the UK and Ireland Vicky Billing and Panache Cruises chief commercial officer Anna Perrott in 2023.


Agents hope for sales boost after ceasefire but clients still cautious


Juliet Dennis


The trade has cautiously welcomed news of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East in the hope it restores travel confidence and encourages clients to book. Travel agents have cited increased


hesitancy among clients as well as a “wait-and-see” mindset in recent weeks amid an overall sales slowdown since the war started. The ceasefire deal in


“We are back from the brink,” he


said, but warned: “We are not at the end of the road yet.” Barrhead Travel managing director


STORY TOP


the early hours of Wednesday (April 8), which includes Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, led to a sharp fall in oil prices to below $100 a barrel – although oil is not expected to return to pre-war levels of around $70 a barrel due to damage sustained in the region. Association of Atol Companies


advisor Alan Bowen was hopeful the news might at least “encourage people to book now”.


travelweekly.co.uk


Nicki Tempest-Mitchell called the ceasefire a “really positive step” and expected confidence to return “quite quickly over the next couple of weeks”. “The situation feels much calmer, which always has a direct impact on customers’ willingness to book,” she said. “People still want to travel; we’re already seeing signs of stability coming back


into the market.” Advantage Travel Partnership


head of business development David Moon agreed: “Hopefully, the recent news will bring a sense of calm to the region and help bolster consumer confidence to travel.” The deal follows reports by the


consortium’s members of slow footfall in the lead up to the Easter weekend. Across the trade, agents said


uncertainty caused by the war had led to increased questions over recent weeks, with clients taking longer to commit and choosing to book at the last minute. Hays Travel said trading had yet to


return to “business as usual” despite a slowdown in the cancellation rate since the initial weeks of the war. Chief operating officer Jonathon


Woodall-Johnston said: “Customers are doing their research and making enquires, but holding off booking. It’s likely widespread media coverage about the expected increase in the cost of travel, coupled with the rise in cost-of-living expenses, is leading to hesitancy.” Independent Travel Experts said


booking volumes remained in line with expectations but overall trading “continues to sit behind targets”. Premier Travel managing director


Paul Waters said enquiry levels dipped last week but trading was “more resilient” than the previous two weeks.


“There is some hesitation from


a proportion of customers but broadly people remain keen to travel. Enquiry levels remain healthy overall,” he said, but admitted some clients were “simply not ready to commit, regardless of the offer available” while others were adopting a “wait-and-see” approach. Experience It Now director


Richard Light also reported softer trading over the past week with customers “more cautious”. “Enquiries are still coming in, but customers are taking longer to commit,” he said. Travel By Hannah director


Hannah Porter also noted “more hesitation creeping in” and more conversations about the Middle East. “It’s not completely stopping


bookings – more prompting questions and reassurance before committing,” she said, but added: “There is [also] still a bit of a ‘wait-and-see’ mindset with some customers hoping for last- minute deals.”


9 APRIL 2026 5


PICTURE: Holland America Line


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