Trade keeps watching brief on US tariffs A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


There are some fam trips that everyone is keen to be part of and the travel trade previews of Universal’s new Epic Universe have certainly fallen into that bracket in recent weeks. The same can also be said for trips organised for journalists, and it


was Travel Weekly deputy news editor Andrew McQuarrie who was the envy of the office as he headed to Orlando for a media preview of the new park. Andrew did a great job of reflecting the excitement across our social media channels last weekend and you can read more about his experience on pages 14-15. Yet it is fair to say the preview trips and next month’s grand opening of Epic Universe come at a time of uncertainty about what is happening stateside.


There are concerns that President Donald Trump’s attempts to redefine global trade will dampen economic activity and potentially lead to recession, with an inevitable impact on the travel industry (back page). But it will take time for the impact of those policies to be felt, and it is the continuing strength of the dollar and high living costs in the US which are currently cited as the primary barriers to transatlantic growth (page 5). We have written regularly this year about the challenges of igniting the price-conscious family market, so the US is certainly not a straightforward mainstream sale even with some spectacular product on offer. Yet with challenges come opportunities, and US specialist suppliers will increasingly be looking to travel agents to help customers overcome their concerns and find trips that suit their budgets.


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


Jetline Travel goes into administration 4 Two leading OTAs buck Atol trend


4


Trade monitors economic uncertainty 5 Ageism warning; Holiday Best targets 6 Cruise Monks hits £1m; Atas sales hike 8 Special Reports


COVER star The Holiday Shop owner


Marina Marsh poses in front of St Nicholas Church in Paphos page 28


Photo: Alex Maguire Virgin Atlantic’s Toronto inaugural 10


Hays Travel IG Conference, Chester 12 Universal showcases Epic Universe ahead of Florida park’s opening in May 14


comment Steve Dunne: AI fails in bid to flatter me 16


NEWS YOU CAN USE


Fred Olsen Cruise, Jet2, Air Canada 17 Princess Cruises, Oceania Cruises


18 Leger, Gold Medal, Tui, Grand UK 20


FRONTLINE agent diary Jennifer Lynch: It’s time to be even better 24


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Shutterstock/Joshua Sukoff, Pookkie, Panos Karas; Universal Orlando Resort; Alice Barnes-Brown; Steve Dunlop


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly BUSINESS NEWS


›Domestic package proposal revised 55 Analysis: Tariffs to dent travel demand 56


EC defers sustainability reporting rules 54 PTRs reform consultation:


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 10 APRIL 2025 3


DESTINATIONS greece & Cyprus Halkidiki: Say hello to Socrates and enjoy fabulous food and rare glimpses of rural Greek life in region’s easternmost peninsula 34


Road Trips: Get into gear with our guide to self-drive routes in three destinations 41 sustainable travel


Zanzibar: Watch artisans carve homeware items at a social enterprise supported by Tui Care Foundation 46


close-up


Royal Caribbean, GNTO, Gold Medal 31 competitions


Win a designer watch, fams, voucher 32


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OSpent 36 hours in Toronto to celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s inaugural flight to the destination and visited Niagara Falls, enjoyed a bike tour of the islands and went up the CN Tower.


OCaught up with Lee Haslett and Janet Parton of Celestyal to discuss their trade plans for 2025 and beyond.


OGot my son back from uni for the Easter break – and am now cooking all his favourite meals!


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