Growth is set to be more challenging A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


The spring conference season is now well underway, with Vertical and Brilliant Travel holding events for their agents and Advantage members heading to Malta this week for their annual forum. As we report this week, Advantage Travel Partnership has much to be positive about (page 5), but it is true to say the industry mood music heading into its 2025 conference isn’t as upbeat as in recent years. I have written many times since the pandemic that there was always going to be a point when the boom driven by pent-up demand would slow and headwinds would gather. And whether it is business and consumer concern caused by economic policy at home, a general sense of flux driven by the Trump administration or worry about conflicts around the world, those headwinds are presenting themselves currently.


As we have reported throughout this year, the challenges are unsurprisingly centred on the cost-conscious mainstream family market. And as Jet2 chief Steve Heapy told me in a panel discussion last week, it is imperative for established destinations to judge pricing prudently to ensure they continue to attract this crucial segment (page 4). Positive results from Classic Collection owner On the Beach and latest Barclays data showing


growth in travel spend being maintained last month gives reason for optimism (page 8). Nonetheless, with a lates booking market looking set to continue into the peak season, nobody will be kidding themselves that 2025 will be an easy ride. There is certainly no sense of doom and gloom, but it seems inevitable that growth will be tougher to come by this year than last.


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS


Employment bill marks ‘radical change’ 4 Jet2 boss urges Spain to maintain quality 4 Advantage unveils rebrand and results 5 Pay gap ‘widens’; expedition cruise


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COVER photo Nisha Bean, Travelosophers;


Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage; Tony Mann, Idle Travel; Sam Orton, Meon Valley Travel;


Paul Nunn, Advantage; Natalie Bowden, Destination; and John Sullivan, Advantage, at Hilton Malta in St Julian’s, Malta


page 5 Photo: Alistair Elmes


FRONTLINE close-up Atas hosts Portugal-themed Destination Showcase 19


agent diary


Colin Burns: We all have ‘angry’ clients 22 Your Stories Dale Sourbutts on starting own agency 26


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Visit Lodz; Disneyland Paris/Marie Flament; Steve Dunlop; Shutterstock/Andrey_Popov; Sarah Lucy Brown


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly


Agent sells from hospital; On the Beach 8 comment


Steve Dunne: PR key after a cyberattack 10


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Jet2CityBreaks, Riviera, Tui, Uganda 15 Jules Verne, Palmer Holidays Seabourn, Trafalgar, Newmarket


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OHad prep calls with speakers from the cruise industry ahead of next week’s Clia Conference in Southampton, which I’m moderating.


OFinalised all the shortlists for this year’s Agent Achievement Awards from a record number of entries!


OHad a brilliant day and night on a hen party for my best friend from university, who’s getting married next month.


competitions Dubai stay, river trip and Oasis tickets 27


DESTINATIONS Family holidays Disneyland Paris: Get in tune with the new Disney Music Festival, running daily until September 28


United Arab Emirates: Review of a twin- centre stay in Dubai and Abu Dhabi 32 europe


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Poland: Discover vibrant murals, movie magic and post-industrial heritage in the intriguing city of Lodz 39


Italy: Emilia Romagna’s key attractions 42 Coolcations: Five suggestions for summer breaks in cooler climes


43 BUSINESS NEWS


Expedia highlights ‘US slowdown’ in Q146 IAG hails 10% growth in Q1 revenue 46 Abta chief looks back on Covid crisis 47 Eurocontrol warns of summer delays 48


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 15 MAY 2025 3


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