Vaccine update offers hope for trade A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
This week’s announcement of significant progress on a Covid-19 vaccine was seized upon as a glimmer of light amid the gloom. Guarded relief at a sense of forward momentum after recent knockbacks was shared in the trade, and the immediate upturn in the price of shares in listed travel companies following the announcement was an indication of investors’ confidence in a return of demand (page 4). A common theme of recent weeks has been the need to treat all positive news with a sense of caution, and the update from Pfizer and BioNTech was certainly not enough on its own to offset the ongoing challenges many in the industry face to make it through the months ahead. But along with reports of pent-up demand and forward bookings for the second half of 2021, it helped to add to a picture of slowly returning
confidence. This was also reflected by agents who issued positive reports following the end of the 17-day firebreak lockdown in Wales (page 8) and by the news that
Jet2.com was expanding its footprint with a new Bristol base (page 7). The winter is still going to be tough for us all, and that is reflected in some companies’ concerns over taking short-term bookings while so much uncertainty remains (page 6). But despite this sensible caution, agents and suppliers alike will be desperately hoping that this
week’s scientific developments, alongside a long-awaited testing regime, accelerate the return of consumer confidence, facilitate the reopening of borders and finally result in essential and reliable revenue for those in dire need.
Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS
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T ravel Weekly’s
Vaccine is a ‘game changer’ for travel 4 Aviation support pleas fall on deaf ears 4 Airport Covid tests ‘ready by December’ 5 ‘Working furlough’; bookings dilemma 6 Jet2 adds Bristol base; consumer polls 7
SPAA awards; Wales agencies reopen 8 Special report UK Travel Intelligence Report
Comment Debbie Marshall: Innovate in adversity 12
NEWS YOU CAN USE Product
Premier Holidays, Roibos, Virgin Atlantic 15 Great Little Breaks, Friendly Moose 16 P&O, Tradewind Voyages, Oceania 18
FRONTLINE agent diary
Clare Dudley: Find will to keep going 20 Your stories
THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:
INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020
FRONT COVER PICTURE: Shutterstock FOLLOW US:
travelweekly.co.uk
Laura Randerson on making a £50k wedding booking 22
@travelweekly 10 Africa
WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK
OHosted a webcast with Lisa McAuley of Gold Medal, Gary Lewis of TTNG and Kieran Shew of
Icelolly.com about the extension of the furlough scheme.
OAttended a virtual meeting with my local MP, along with fellow constituents Nick Marks of Baldwins Travel and Jayne Peirce of Jayne Peirce Recruitment, to appeal for more support for travel.
OHad a cleaning blitz of my house! Not fun but highly satisfying.
Competitions
Win a new website for your agency 24 Get Social
Courtney Airsavers, Flash Pack, Pole 27
DESTINATIONS cruise
2021 River: 8 of the Best river cruises for next year, from the Peruvian Amazon with Avalon to Venice and north Italy with Uniworld 28
Safaris: There’s no time like the present to help customers start planning and booking once-in-a- lifetime experiences
BUSINESS NEWS STA’s cash ‘was tied up in bonds’
34 38
Guevara: Collaboration key to revival 38 ‘Vaccine can bring recovery by 2024’ 39 Iata: Some routes may prove unviable 39 Shapps confirms test plan but no date 40
travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 12 NOVEMBER 2020 3
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