Outbound lobbying group canvasses industry views
Juliet Dennis
The UK Outbound Travel Group is calling for trade feedback on issues such as school calendar reform in its first industry-wide consultation. The survey launch comes as the
lobbying group looks to broaden its engagement beyond the travel sector and seeks further industry support. It has seven stakeholders,
including the Advantage Travel Partnership, InteleTravel and Aito, The Specialist Travel Association, and is “actively pursuing expansion”. The group recently called on
the Department for Education to work with industry representatives, teaching unions and parent groups to develop transition plans for school holiday timings due to climate change. Advantage chief executive and
group spokesperson Julia Lo Bue-Said described the trade survey as a “pivotal moment” to reach beyond its core membership and engage with the broader travel trade community. The group is keen to secure
“candid feedback” on government relations and policy matters affecting the sector. She said: “The survey data will serve as crucial ammunition for our ongoing lobbying efforts, providing evidence-based arguments that show genuine industry consensus.
“We plan to conduct thorough
analysis of the findings, which will help us refine our messaging and prioritise our advocacy initiatives.” On the need for feedback on
school holiday reform, she added: “This survey represents an invaluable opportunity to gauge whether there is genuine cross-industry appetite for change and to ensure our lobbying efforts reflect the collective voice of the travel trade.” Lo Bue-Said said the group
was considering expanding its engagement beyond the travel sector to include educational institutions, academics and other relevant stakeholders. “This multi-sector approach
One in three holidaymakers use
agent or operator to book – Abta A third of British consumers who went on holiday in the past year used a travel professional to book, according to Abta. In total, 34% of 2,000 people surveyed for the association’s annual Holiday Habits survey booked through an agent or tour operator – down from 38% last year. The top reasons cited for doing so were ease of booking (57%) and desire to save time (42%).
8 9 OCTOBER 2025
would strengthen our position when presenting proposals to government officials and policymakers,” she added. The survey – available at
tinyurl.com/OutboundTravelSurvey – is targeted at travel agents, tour operators and other key stakeholders in the sector. To date, the group has
engaged with more than 85 MPs nationwide, which has helped to amplify its messages within government circles and among “key policymakers”, said Lo Bue-Said. It is planning an event in
Westminster in 2026 to “present our policy priorities directly to government officials”.
Travel Network Group unveils ‘faster’ all-in-one tech platform
The Travel Network Group is to introduce an all-in-one technology platform to bring all leads, bookings and customer interactions into one system. The Vision platform, due to launch on November 10, has been designed to enable faster and more efficient operations following feedback from members.
The UK Outbound Travel Group plans to present policy priorities to government officials in 2026
Jet2 staff in line for £58m share scheme payout
Almost 6,000 Jet2 staff who joined a ShareSave scheme in 2022 are in line to benefit from a total payout of more than £58 million. The scheme, which matured on
October 1, gave members of staff the opportunity to buy shares at a discounted price of £7.66 each, Those who joined can now choose to hold or sell their stakes. The company said the payout
had been calculated by multiplying the number of shares in the scheme by £14.16, based on an 84% rise in share price in the ensuing period. The return on the amount
invested is more than £26 million, with a member who invested the average £227 a month in the three- year scheme standing to make a gain of approximately £6,922 from their £8,172 investment. Members investing the maximum £500 a month stand to make a gain of about £15,261 if they opt to sell. The company said the scheme
added to support for staff who have also received a compounded salary increase of 28% over the past four years. Chief executive Steve Heapy
said: “We continue to grow and succeed by focusing on a simple philosophy of ‘People, Service, Profits’ and we are delighted that our hard-working colleagues can share in the success that they helped create.”
Midcounties Co-operative and Central Co-op in merger talks
The Midcounties Co-operative and Central Co-op, the UK’s two largest independent retail co-operatives, are in “advanced discussions” about a merger. If approved by both boards and members, the merger would bring together a range of businesses, including 70 travel agencies. The groups have a combined membership of one million and annual sales of £1.8 billion.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shu terstock/Jam
Shuttterstock/James Jones Jr
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