We must ensure travel is open to all A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Last week I had the privilege of moderating Clia’s 2026 Cruise Conference in Southampton where one of the highlights was an Ask the Experts session, in which I posed our panellists a series of questions sent in by travel agent attendees. We had hundreds of submissions so our session really only scratched
the surface, but nonetheless I was struck by the huge number of questions we received on the subject of accessibility. Travel Weekly has been writing about accessible travel for many
years and we published our first edition dedicated to the subject in 2023, but it feels like the penny is starting to drop that this is a real area of opportunity as well as simply “the right thing to do”. This fourth accessible travel-themed edition includes a range of news
stories, agent testimonials, expert comments and longer features on different aspects of the topic, all of them designed to increase your knowledge and give you the confidence to sell more. And I would particularly encourage you to read two really insightful first-person articles – one featuring two agents with first-hand experience who discuss their travels with our edition sponsor Tui (page 30) and another written by blind traveller Sassy Wyatt, who travelled to Alaska with Princess Cruises and describes exactly why it was a trip with a difference (page 37). As Tui’s Jill Cunningham says, developing an understanding of accessible travel is not about
being perfect, it’s about continually listening and learning to ensure the incredible product and experiences our industry creates can truly be open to all.
ri Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group B CONTENTS NEWS News Comment 6 16
News You Can Use 17-18 Agent Diary Your Stories Destinations Business
22 24
30-39 47
UKHospitality chief’s government plea 4 EES ‘may take two years to stabilise’ 4 Consumer confidence rises – survey 5 £117k accessible sale; Traveleyes call 6 Special Reports
Reuben’s Retreat in final push for £1m 8 Clia Conference, Southampton
12
Travel Weekly Cruise Leaders’ Dinner 14 comment
Richard Thompson: We need inclusivity 16 Front cover: Pictured at the
Clia Conference are, from left: Eva Bose, Not Just Travel;
Michael Holmes, InteleTravel; Jonny Peat, Advantage
Travel Partnership; Deanne Moses-Wright, Premier Travel;
Rob Rinder; and Joanne Pearson, Southampton Cruise Concierge.
Photo: Steve Dunlop
FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Steve Dunlop; Matemwe Attitude; Shutterstock/Rizki Wahyu Amanta
travelweekly.co.uk
NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Tui, Cruise Dialysis, Riviera, Jet2, Pata 17 Traveleyes, Enable Holidays, Seable 18
FRONTLINE aaas 2026 preview Claire Stirrup of joint headline sponsor Celebrity Cruises 20
Agent diary Andrea Smith: More progress needed 22
FOLLOW US: @travelweekly
WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK
OHad the honour of welcoming dozens of amazing finalists for our Agent Achievement Awards judging.
OHosted T ravel
Weekly’s annual Cruise Leaders’ Dinner before taking to the stage to moderate Clia’s annual conference.
ORefocused my fitness efforts after an injury-induced running break by digging out my weights and going for a 10k walk with a great audiobook!
Your Stories Ali Parker, Travel Counsellors
caught on camera MSC Cup 2026, Stamford Bridge
24 26
competitions Oceania cruise, £200, Portugal fam 28
DESTINATIONS accessible travel Agent Reports: Two agents describe their accessible stays at Tui Blue resorts in Cyprus and Majorca
30
Alaska: A blind traveller reports on her exhilarating Princess Cruises sailing 37 indian ocean
Zanzibar: New property Matemwe Attitude fosters clients’ cultural insights 40
BUSINESS NEWS
UK to invest in Universal; CAA powers 46 Iata AGM, Rio de Janeiro:
travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 11 JUNE 2026 3
›Airline profits tipped to halve this year 47 Analysis: Iata takes stock of oil shock 48
S
A
P
C
E
C
N
C
E
I S
E
S
T
L I
I
T
O
R
A
V
E
L
A
L
E D
I
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
