INSIDE THIS


WEEK Contents


NEWS Hot Stories


‘Expect to be filmed by irate customers’; ‘Brits to see agents like personal trainers’; Agent charters flights for Liverpool fans; AAAs shortlist reveals ‘amazing agents’; GDPR claims ‘won’t be like sickness scam’


8 8 AAAs


Has your agency made the cut? Finalists revealed for Agent Achievement Awards 2018 page 18


Round-up A2Btransfer rebrands; win tickets


08 Clia Conference preview; Sandals event 10


Special Reports Seabourn targets luxury land-stay market 12 Advantage Conference 2018 preview Touring body Atas celebrates first year


14 16


Talk Back Argentina, Hays, Tipto, Olsen, Poon Tip


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Thomas Cook, SeaWorld, Tui


Cruise Celebrity, APT, Olsen, Princess 21 04


23 24


Operator Niquesa, Travel Gallery, Al Fresco 27


FRONTLINE Comment Sharon Fleming: expertise


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Agents are inspiration to all L


ast week, I had the pleasure of chairing the judging for our 2018 Agent Achievement Awards (page 18). And yet again, as every year, I was blown away by the agents who came in to present to our panel of judges. From leisure managers who lead incredible teams and


are clearly adored by their staff, to fantastic agents who achieve outstanding customer service levels, we saw the very best of our industry. My personal favourites were the nominees for the Young


Agent of the Year: teenagers on apprentice schemes, often selling more than colleagues who had been agents for years. Many are running their agency’s entire social media strategy and involved in local community events and organisations above and beyond their remits. What dedication, and what an inspiration to us all. So many fascinating stories came out of the judging days of canny agents jumping on opportunities to give them a unique hook to sell more holidays or offer personal service to loyal clients. No wonder on-the-ball agents like these are thriving,


despite other ways for customers to book holidays. Our story about Myriad Travel (page 5) taking the


biggest risk in its history to serve its local football fans was just one tale that caught our attention. We will be featuring more over the coming weeks in the


run-up to the AAAs in London on July 12, as we look to celebrate the very best in the sector. The only bad thing was having to choose


28


Readers’ Lives Kerrie Pinch, Dawson & S. 30 Competitions Win afternoon tea for two 33 Mystery Shopper Reigate and Redhill


36 DESTINATIONS


Family Holidays Activities: Options for kids and parents 38 No-fly: UK and beyond minus airport woe 47


FRONT COVER Cover Star Kerrie Pinch of Dawson & Sanderson on California trip


page 30 PHOTO: STEVE HOCKSTEIN


Switzerland & Austria Lucerne: 48 hours in this lakeside city


BUSINESS


Business Breakfast: dnata’s John Bevan Photos from the Travel Weekly event


60 Bevan vows to ‘deliver better’ to agents 64 52 May 10 WHAT


LUCY DID THISWEEK


1


2 3


Lucy Huxley Editor-in-chief @Lucy_Huxley


Chaired the judging panels for the AAAs – meeting some of the most driven, creative and passionate agents in the business.


Enjoyed a fantastic evening with UK and US executives from Azamara Club Cruises, hearing about plans for new ship, Azamara Pursuit.


Relived my youth, taking my daughter and her friend to a roller disco. Discovered I can still skate, even backwards, after all these years!


10 May 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 3


just one winner in each category as all the nominees were so deserving. What an honour it will be to crown the overall winners this summer.


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