‘Trip cost still trumps sustainability’ Juliet Dennis
Sustainability remains a low priority for holidaymakers despite the high media profile of the Cop26 climate conference, according to the trade. Travel agents said clients rarely,
if ever, asked about sustainability or responsible travel when booking, adding they had not seen any change in recent weeks. In an online poll by trade action
group Target, 47 respondents said they had seen no increase in clients looking to book sustainable options – and no members reported an upturn. Co-founder Graeme Brett, of
Westoe Travel, said: “Sustainability is a bigger issue for tour operators than agents at the moment. The main
priority for the vast majority of agents is the survival of their business.” The group’s other co-founder, Jill
Waite, of Pole Travel, said there was no evidence the issue was important among her own clients. “We are in a low-income area where people save for holidays. I don’t believe they’d pay more to book a sustainable travel company,” she added. Paul Waters, director at miniple
Premier Travel, agreed price was key. He said: “The majority of clients seem very price-conscious and want to ensure they are getting good value for money. They are not looking to pay for a more sustainable holiday.” Speaking at Clia’s Selling Cruise
Day, Silver Travel Advisor owner Lisa McAuley said sustainability was “quite low” on most members’ priority
US specialists reap bookings amid high profile reopening
Robin Searle
US specialists reported continued strong forward and short-term demand as Virgin Atlantic and British Airways temporarily set aside rivalries with a dual take-off to celebrate the reopening of transatlantic routes. Olly Brendon, chief executive of
AttractionTickets.com, said bookings on Monday were 40% higher than average for November as travel to the US restarted, with Orlando and the West Coast particularly strong. Ocean Holidays co-chief
4 11 NOVEMBER 2021
executive Harry Hastings said enquiries were up 20% week-on- week following a sharp upturn in October, when business returned to pre-pandemic levels. He reported a “surge in last-minute business” in addition to strong Christmas and forward bookings. Gold Medal sales director Nick
Hughes said US sales had largely driven the trade-only operator’s strongest sales month since the start of the pandemic in October, and added “the high-profile nature of the restart will only have helped to whet travellers’ appetites”.
We are in a low-
income area – I don’t believe people would pay more to book a sustainable travel firm
lists when booking. She predicted change would come in time as a result of Cop26, with “grandchildren pestering grandparents”. Sunvil chairman Noel Josephides
said clients were not “actively asking” about sustainable holidays but were “expecting companies to be working towards offering them”. He added: “We need more clarity
[on what we can do]. To put it bluntly, most are struggling to survive
and don’t have the luxury of full-time people or consultants to guide us.” Haslemere Travel owner Gemma
Antrobus said most clients wanted to “spend the money they have not spent in the last 18 months”. She said: “If clients want to
travel by rail, it’s because they want that experience or don’t like flying – they are not comparing it in sustainability terms.” In contrast, Latin Routes founder
Martin Johnson said clients were asking about travelling responsibly and sustainably and stressed the operator also raised the subject in conversation with new customers. He said: “It’s definitely a
discussion we’re having. It’s only a matter of time before agents are asked about this.”
Virgin Atlantic and BA flights to New York take off simultaneously from Heathrow on Monday
Hughes said the majority of US
bookings were for 2022 but there were “a lot of enquiries” for travel in December and Christmas breaks. Brendon said: “Customers are
telling us that they are willing to incur the cost of testing and potential delays at the border if it means they can have their dream US holiday. “I am confident that demand for
2022 and 2023 will remain strong.” The easing of US border
restrictions attracted widespread coverage in the national media on Monday, with Virgin and BA’s dual
take-off from Heathrow to New York capturing attention. Abta said 18% of people who
intend to holiday abroad hope to travel to the US over the next year – making it the second most-popular destination UK holidaymakers say they plan to travel to. The Advantage Travel Partnership
said both leisure and business bookings to the US had increased. But chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said warned “travel remains incredibly complicated” and reiterated the importance of booking with an agent.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Anthony Upton/ PA Wire
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