Cruise optimism mirrors wider hopes A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


The confirmation that domestic cruises are in line to restart from May 17 was a rare piece of good news for a sector that has suffered as much as any over the course of the pandemic. Although there is still some way to go before the industry can fully


reopen, the return of cruises in UK waters was always going to be the first step in the process and a target date for their resumption is the first tangible sign of momentum for many months (page 4). The sense of measured positivity after the announcement was mirrored this week in the wider industry, with the chiefs of easyJet and Abta both telling Travel Weekly of their optimism that a gradual reopening of international travel will be possible as hoped from the same date in May (page 5).


And while many caveats remain around the speed and length of the recovery and the


restrictions and requirements that will facilitate the restart, there are growing grounds for belief that there will be some meaningful business in the second half of the year (page 6). It is against this backdrop that we will host our Future of Travel Spring Forum next week, and


with more than 25 speakers including the UK bosses of Tui, Carnival and Hays Travel, it is set to be an unmissable event. The virtual forum is free to attend as we support the industry in the recovery process, and there is still time to register – head to tinyurl.com/TWspringforum – to receive exclusive early access to the sessions on March 15, 17 and 19.


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


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T ravel Weekly’s


Taskforce assesses vaccination certificates 4 Cruise agents cheer date for UK sailings 4 Lundgren confident of ‘strong summer’ 5 Summer sales rise; Clia River Showcase 6 ‘OK to book May’; cruise package trend 7


Trade marks IWD; Virgin names ship 8 Comment


Gordon McCreadie: We need clarity on key issues 10


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product


A&K/Cox; G Adventures; Shearings 11 Classic Collection; Jet2CityBreaks


P&O, Princess, Fred Olsen, Tradewinds 13


FRONTLINE agent diary


Mark Swords: Still too many ‘unknowns’ 16 Your Stories


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


FOLLOW US: travelweekly.co.uk


Homeworker Sarah Davis raises £600 for Bali guide 17


@travelweekly 12


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OModerated the Clia River Cruise Showcase, including sessions with Uniworld’s Ellen Bettridge and AmaWaterways’ Rudi Schreiner.


OCo-hosted an agent webinar with Shane Riley of Virgin Voyages to reveal the name of its third ship, Resilient Lady.


OWatched Hidden Figures, a film about three brilliant African- American women at Nasa, coincidentally on the eve of IWD. Well worth a watch!


Get Social PTD review, Budget, Virgin Voyages 18


DESTINATIONS The US


short breaks


Rail Holidays: Get your clients on track for stress-free tours spanning the Rockies, the West Coast, Alaska, the Deep South and more 20


Selling Cities: Experts from Osprey Holidays, Citalia and Jet2holidays offer tips on selling city breaks as the pandemic eases


24


Northern Ireland: Discover the unheralded natural beauty of the Ards Peninsula 26


BUSINESS NEWS


Interview with Abta chief Mark Tanzer: ‘March bond renewals will be easier’ 28 ‘Travel on track for May 17 restart’ 29 RCN assessment; devolved nations 29 Plus: Lundgren praises taskforce process 30


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 11 MARCH 2021 3


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