5 2


Bookings strong despite Brexit


Ian Taylor ian.taylor@travelweekly.co.uk


enior instr fires denounced the impasse on Brexit as “a shambles” this week, but insisted that they hae seen no sin of an imact on ooins


The government delayed putting


its Brexit deal to a Parliamentary vote on Monday, extending uncertainty about the outcome in a move Princess Cruises UK vice- president Tony Roberts described as “hugely frustrating”. Paula Lacey, Advantage Travel


Partnership group commercial and membership director, who joined Roberts at a Travel Weekly Business Breakfast, declared: “Politically, it’s a complete shambles.” But Lacey said: “People are still booking. If you look at [analyst] GfK’s data and at our data, all seasons are up. What we’re seeing is people trade down in star rating or trade up to all-inclusive to manage their budget.” Thomas Cook UK sales and e-commerce director Phil Gardner agreed, saying: “We’ve had a strong start to bookings for next


year. We’ve got nothing in our numbers that suggests Brexit is a major issue. Of course there is concern, but it just doesn’t translate into a downturn in bookings at this stage. We need to make sure that doesn’t change. We’re well positioned for 2019, and it’s critical we hold onto that.” Roberts, UK chairman of cruise association Clia, said: “There doesn’t appear to be any reluctance by consumers to book. We see a strong forward position for 2019. But we’re not complacent – we’re keen to make sure we underpin the summer 2019 season through January and February.” He added: “A lot of cruise lines


have 2020 product on sale [with] growth in their ex-UK business. There is a lot of confidence in the UK market beyond Brexit.” Asked whether Thomas Cook


would proceed with its planned January sales campaign, Gardner said: “One hundred per cent –


people want to go on holiday.” › Business struggling to be heard over Brexit noise, back page


3


Members at the ITE conference


STORIES HOT


ITE offered free retail pop-ups


Amie Keeley ITE Conference, London


emers of he rae etor ros homeorin iision are ein offere the chance to set up pop-up shops in major retail centres as it celebrates a recor ear


Independent Travel Experts (ITE) will be supplied with free stands and marketing collateral to set up stalls in shopping centres such as Bluewater and Lakeside, Essex, as well as at centres in Portsmouth and Manchester. Group membership services


director Lisa Henning said its homeworkers had been requesting pop-up shops in the past year. Members have to apply for a


spot, with slots booked every Saturday and Sunday throughout January and February. The announcement was made


From left: Tony Roberts, Princess Cruises; Paula Lacey, Advantage; and Phil Gardner, Thomas Cook


at the group’s annual one-day conference on the Sunborn London Yacht Hotel on the Thames last week, where Henning updated members on the division’s performance and announced next year’s event would be held overseas for the first time.


“Five years ago we were in


one room in Birmingham,” she said. “This year you have had the most phenomenal year so it’s important for us to find a location that reflects the group’s success. ITE welcomed 38 members


this year, taking the total to 120. Turnover from July 2017 to June 2018 was in excess of £20 million and passenger numbers rose 25%. Two members will achieve


turnover of £1 million each by the end of the year, with three turning over more than £750,000 and six more than £500,000. A total of 31 bookings across the group had a value of more than £20,000 each. Performance levels were


introduced this year with agents able to achieve bronze, silver, gold and platinum status. As a thank you for their hard


work, Henning announced each member would receive 1% extra commission throughout December, which will be paid in January. Cruise ambassadors will also


be introduced next year. They will receive additional training, funding and marketing support to


grow cruise sales. › Read more and see pictures online at travelweekly.co.uk


13 December 2018travelweekly.co.uk5


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  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80