NEWS
Agencies reported a buoyant weekend of trading in the wake of last week’s easing of restrictions
Agents cheer upturn but demand clear messaging from government
Juliet Dennis
Hopes for a near-normal summer have risen a week after news of eased travel testing rules, but agents stressed the need for consistency from government. Firms described the scrapping of
pre-departure tests and PCR tests on arrival last week as a “big turning point” at the start of the trade’s peak sales period. Most agents reported
March 2021. A fifth of bookings were for departures in the next six weeks. Fred Olsen Travel’s sales were
“massively up” on January 2021 and hit 80% of 2020 peaks levels on some days at the end of last week. Head of commercial Paul Hardwick said: “It feels like a big turning point.” Most Protected Trust Services’
sustained high levels of enquiries, with some welcoming back clients not seen since before Covid and many witnessing a “sod it” factor after two years of staycations. Enquiries over the past week have
STORY TOP
members reported a surge in enquiries, with many members seeing demand at its highest level in 18 months, and average spend 50% higher than 2021. Head of business development Jacqui Cleaver
said: “This is the beginning of the
end. The only way is up.” About 20% of Barrhead Travel’s
been across all seasons, including last-minute holidays and Easter breaks, while summer 2022 sales have been particularly strong, fuelling hopes of “normal” trading levels. The Advantage Travel Partnership reported its third-best sales week since
travelweekly.co.uk
bookings last week were for trips before the end of March, but summer dominated sales. President Jacqueline Dobson forecast a summer “much more akin to volumes we’re used to” if further rule changes are only minor. The Travel Network Group was more cautious, saying members were
“slowly seeing more enquiries and bookings”. Individual agencies reported a
buoyant weekend of trading. Bailey’s Travel managing director
Chris Bailey said: “It’s not back to pre-pandemic levels but it’s sufficiently encouraging to make me think we might be on our way back to some form of normality.” World Travel Lounge managing
director David McDonald said 30% of bookings were for lates and most of the rest for summer. “There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. Deben Travel took more
bookings on Saturday than any day since Covid, but owner Lee Hunt cautioned: “We’re not out of the woods yet. It’ll take years to have the healthy bank balance we had.” Haslemere Travel owner Gemma
Antrobus said: “I’ve been rushed off my feet. I’m hearing back from clients I’ve not heard from during Covid.” She urged agents to “take the positives”, adding: “We can do this.”
Henbury Travel owner Richard
Slater predicted a late-booking surge, with sales tailing off when availability dries up and prices rise, but said many clients were now “fed up” and wanted a holiday. Optimism was tempered by
warnings of challenges, including staff shortages and debt repayments, with agents stressing the need for a consistent government approach. A spokeswoman for The Travel
Network Group warned: “We need clear messages from government with regards to their plans on testing and restrictions so customers have the confidence to travel.” Advantage leisure director Kelly Cookes stressed: “We need these departures to happen for agents to earn.” Dobson said clients “want
assurances from the UK and devolved governments there is a commitment to keep travel open without further arbitrary restrictions”, and warned of “a
very long road to full recovery ahead”. i Comment, page 14
13 JANUARY 2022 5
PICTURE: Shutterstock/ Dmitry Molchanov
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