Trading still in focus amid crisis response A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


The Iran war continued to pose immense logistical challenges as Travel Weekly went to press, with the impact of the conflict spreading well beyond the Gulf region. Companies with clients travelling to or through the region continue to implement contingency plans, but the application of those plans has been hampered by ongoing uncertainty over the resumption of air services and a shortage of alternatives (page 4). Alongside the immediate focus on repatriation and rebooking, firms


are also weighing the impact on consumer sentiment and future trading in the key first quarter of the year (page 5). Even before the escalation of military activity and retaliatory strikes in the Middle East, agents and operators alike were reporting


sluggishness in a late-booking family market, and recent events will undoubtedly pose more challenges for this segment. In this annual Family Holidays themed edition of Travel Weekly, supported by Tui, we highlight a wealth of product and opportunities to persuade families to shift from enquiry to booking mode. But with some family destinations caught up in the conflict and reports of caution about others in the vicinity, the need to stimulate bookings through astute marketing and pricing will become ever greater. From both an industry and humanitarian perspective, we hope for a swift return of stability to


a region which has done so much in recent years to court and support the trade. If that stability can be achieved, there is still hope that underlying demand for holidays will overcome an understandable caution over current events and their potential impact on disposable incomes.


de Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group h CONTENTS NEWS SPECIAL EDITION News


The Interview Comment


Agent Diary Your Stories Destinations


6, 8 10 18


News You Can Use 19, 22, 24 26 28


36-50


‘Repatriation efforts hugely challenging’ 4 Trade grapples with Easter bookings 4 Agents report shift to ‘safer’ countries 5 Families feel pinch; Nile sales ‘slow’ 6 Agent’s £180k sale; Glasgow fire impact 8 Special Reports


The Interview: Louise Bates, Tui Carnival UK cruise round-table Aito celebrates 50th anniversary


10 12 14


comment Rob Parkinson, Family Holiday Charity 18


NEWS YOU CAN USE Intrepid Travel, Jet2, G Adventures


Crystal Ski Holidays, Railbookers


FRONTLINE agent diary


Matt and Ashley Phillips: Family sales 26 your stories Family cruise expert agent Sam Davis 28


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Steve Dunlop; Shutterstock/Garun .Prdt, saroch; Cezare White Photography


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly


19 20


Royal, Celebrity, Swan, HAL, MSC 22


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OModerated the Clia RiverView conference in Amsterdam, interviewing cruise line execs, agency leaders and comedian Susan Calman.


OHad a great meeting with Vicki and Tom from News UK, our consumer media partner for a number of events.


OChalked up an unexpected 3-0 victory over second- in-the-league Deal, playing in the same team as my daughter who scored twice!


in the picture


Inspiring Women: Nishma Patel Robb 28 close-up


Hays, Seaside, Janine Loves Travel 32 competitions Cancun trip, £10k voucher and more 34


DESTINATIONS family holidays


Dominican Republic: A family with young children revels in the tropical fun of Club Med Punta Cana 36


Cruise:MSC World Europa triumphs at keeping three youngsters entertained 41 Mother’s Day: Experts’ tips for grown-up escapes for mothers and daughters 44 New Resorts: Check out our pick of eight of the best new properties for families 47


BUSINESS NEWS Abta Travel Finance Conference:


›’War threat to economy, confidence’ 54 Loveholidays ‘delays listing’; Barclays 55 Analysis: Outlook rests on war duration 56


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 12 MARCH 2026 3


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