Agents bank on client word of mouth Juliet Dennis


Frontline agents hope word of mouth from travellers will boost bookings after the announcement of relaxed quarantine restrictions failed to produce a bumper crop of new summer sales. Most agents reported growing


consumer confidence, with more clients committing to balance payments for later in the year, but no significant uplift in summer bookings following news that holidaymakers would not have to self-isolate after travel to amber destinations. The Travel Network Group


said the UK continued to be the preferred destination for members’


clients this summer, while Advantage Travel Partnership reported sales were “relatively steady” but still “way behind what we would expect at this time of year”. Dawson & Sanderson saw sales


double on the two days after the government’s announcement but said this was 40% off sales levels for the same days in 2019. Managing director Chris Harrison


cited the complexity of travel and testing concerns as barriers to travel, adding: “It will take time to build over coming weeks. There are lots of questions being asked by customers during the enquiry stage.” Many in the trade admitted they are pinning their hopes on word


Trade reiterates call for aid despite quarantine easing


Travel Weekly reporters


Agents and industry leaders say the easing of restrictions for overseas travel does not remove the need for urgent financial support from government. Last week’s announcement was


given a broad welcome by the trade, but agents said the pace of reopening was not enough to generate sufficient revenue for most in the industry. Chris Harrison, managing director


of Dawson & Sanderson, said: “If the pace of unlocking international travel is going to continue to be slow and convoluted, the whole industry and its primary supply chain


6 15 JULY 2021


needs bespoke financial support. “With airports such as Heathrow


reporting a 90% drop in passenger volume, it’s obvious to see that the industry needs a quicker and wider response to opening up safely.” Mark Johnson, director of Polka


Dot Travel, added: “Sector-specific support is badly needed. The industry has been hit so hard that recovery will take some years. The travel industry should have the business rates holiday extended for the whole year.” Kelly Cookes, leisure director at


the Advantage Travel Partnership, said: “The current situation is not enough to sustain an entire industry without sector-specific financial


support and this is still key to survival for many members.” A spokesperson for The Travel


Network Group added: “With furlough coming to an end in September, there isn’t enough trading time to help travel businesses. “Customers are concerned that in


August, countries might move from amber to red, meaning families are more reluctant to travel abroad.” The calls from agents echoed


those made by trade associations and industry bodies immediately after the government’s announcement. Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer


described the easing as “a step in the right direction” but said “the need for


of mouth to kick-start business. Miles Morgan Travel chairman


Miles Morgan said positive comments about holidays and pictures of “empty sunbeds and sunny skies” on social media could boost bookings. “The human instinct of jealousy will kick in,” he said. Polka Dot Travel director Mark


Johnson agreed: “Once people start travelling more and people post on social media, we will hopefully get some traction.” Holidaysplease director Richard


Dixon said “confidence will grow” as friends and families travel but also called for a wider destination choice. He added: “An expanded green list would be a massive help.”


Harrison agreed, saying a broader


list of mainstream destinations would show travel was opening up. “Consumers need to see positive


consistency,” he said. Agents on a Travel Weekly webcast


also raised concerns about capacity. The Travel Snob owner David


Walker said: “We cannot be fussy. You look at something and go back and it’s gone.” Sutton Travel managing director


Andy Tomlinson urged operators to “hold their nerve” on capacity. “What we don’t want is to get


communications like last summer to say ‘this flight has been withdrawn’,”


he added. i Comment, page 12


Trade representatives lobby for financial support at last month’s Travel Day of Action


government support remains pressing”. Clive Wratten, chief executive


of the Business Travel Association, said the announcement was a “vital kick-start” for business, but Focus Travel Partnership chief executive Abby Penston warned: “This is not a return to normality.” Despite the broadly positive


response from the trade, representa- tives of the inbound industry said the announcement “did nothing” for a sector that was “dying on its knees”. UKinbound chief executive Joss


Croft said: “The government must provide more support, including fur-


lough extension and targeted grants.” i Agent Diary, page 20


travelweekly.co.uk


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