Agency leaders fear loss of talent


Ben Ireland and Juliet Dennis


Agency bosses fear the end of furlough and continued travel restrictions could drain talent from the trade as it struggles to attract newcomers to the industry. Barrhead Travel is planning a


recruitment campaign when travel returns to “normality” but president Jacqueline Dobson warned “lateral thinking” is required for future recruitment drives. She said Barrhead is “looking at


how we can convey the message of why a career in travel is so rewarding”. Dobson called on the industry


at large to “get creative” to “change perceptions about working in travel”.


She said: “If travel does continue


to unlock over the next six months, our industry will face an influx of pent-up demand. Travel businesses will need to be sufficiently staffed and well-trained.” Consortia said members were


focused on retaining talent. The Travel Network Group


said some members were planning redundancies and many were looking to reduce hours to keep staff. A spokeswoman said: “They don’t


want to lose their great people.” The Advantage Travel Partnership


leisure director Kelly Cookes said: “The loss of skill is a huge concern. Experienced agents are leaving the industry either by choice or losing jobs. We’ll see a gap in knowledge


and skill. Attracting talent will need addressing.” Spear Travels chairman Peter


Cookson said the loss of talent was a “real concern”, with his agency having filled two of five vacancies. “We have lost valuable staff going outside of travel,” he said. “They will never return to travel. It’s a huge loss.” Cookson added: “It is increasingly impossible to pay people what they


It is increasingly


impossible to pay people what they are worth in our industry – margins are so slim


are worth in our industry – margins are so slim.” Deben Travel is bringing three


staff off furlough but staff will be working reduced hours, and some still have second jobs. Owner Lee Hunt said: “I’m


worried our industry will lose a lot of talent. Then what will differentiate us from the online players?” Miles Morgan Travel is on 80%


staffing levels. Chairman Miles Morgan said the talent drain was “a concern” and warned of “significantly more work for agents” because “every single booking is in ‘intensive care’.” Polka Dot Travel director Mark


Johnson said recruitment was “a huge


problem at the moment”. i Jacqueline Dobson: Comment, page 14


On the Beach goes back on sale and offers free tests


Ben Ireland


On the Beach has gone back on sale and is to cover the cost of Covid-19 tests for customers who book to key destinations this month at an expected cost of more than £1 million. The OTA opted not to sell


holidays this summer in response to just 12 countries making the government’s initial green list in May. This week, chief executive Simon


Cooper reported a “growing appetite” for holidays, and said: “Having carefully monitored the ongoing


6 9 SEPTEMBER 2021


travel updates, the data at home and in our key destinations, and the sentiment among our customers, we feel the time is now right to welcome them back to the beach. “We’re encouraged by the


easing of travel restrictions for the fully vaccinated and the rollout of vaccination programmes in the UK and in our most popular destinations. “This has also settled the traffic


light system in recent weeks.” On the Beach is providing


complimentary Covid tests with all bookings made up to September 30 for holidays in 2021 to Spain, Greece


Iggy Pop, star of recent On the Beach advertising campaigns


and Cyprus to customers in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland initially. It has set aside £1.5 million to


help rebuild consumer confidence in travel and support a long-term and sustained return – and expects to spend at least £1 million of it on tests for customers. These will be ordered automatically following bookings and delivered by UKAS-approved provider Collinson. On the Beach said 32% of


respondents to a recent survey of 2,000 people cited the cost of PCR tests as a key reason for not booking for 2021, second only to concerns the holiday would not go ahead. On the Beach also launched a


‘New Normal Booking Pledge’. This promises a full cash refund


if holidays are cancelled because of Covid, free cancellation if a holidaymaker contracts Covid, and no fee to amend if a destination becomes “Covid-affected”.


travelweekly.co.uk


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