Legal actions illustrate industry’s anger A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


Frustration in the trade mounted this week as the expected delay to England’s lockdown easing was confirmed. The delay means a reopening of international travel will most likely also be nudged further down the road, with hopes for the peak summer season now resting solely on late July and August (page 5). Opinion is divided about whether any meaningful restart will be possible as concerns around the Delta variant persist. But with the prospect of much-needed income once again fading, the fresh delay will further turn the screw on businesses still largely prevented from trading. It is against this backdrop that a legal challenge to the government’s


approach and seeking support for the industry was launched by Travel Weekly owner and business entrepreneur Clive Jacobs this week (page 4).


At the same time, a group of agents pressed ahead with their legal case over insurance payouts and Abta continued to work on its legal action over the allocation of retail grants (page 7). These challenges reflect the widespread anger and frustration which will underpin the industry Day of Action outside Parliament and elsewhere on June 23 (page 4). We will be providing full coverage of the day for those who can’t attend in person on our social media channels and on the new-look travelweekly.co.uk. This investment in our flagship website reflects the incredible growth in online usage and engagement we’ve seen in the past year. It also reiterates our commitment to bringing you the best news, analysis and inspiration for free at the time you need it most. Read more on pages 10-11.


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


dedicated web pages to support you


go.travelweekly.co.uk/ webcasts


Webcasts


Restart & Recovery Hub travelweekly.co.uk/ restart-recovery


T ravel Weekly’s


Hundreds prepare for Day of Action 4 Jacobs launches legal crowdfunding 4 Domestic delay ‘no obstacle to clarity’ 5 Demand shifts; Tourism Recovery Plan 6 Insurance payout fight; lobbying ‘gains’ 7


Aspire Awards 2021; cruising’s restart 8 Special Reports Travel Weekly’s new-look website


10


Mental Health Matters: wellbeing focus 12 Comment: Hawke on travelling again 14


NEWS YOU CAN USE


Great Little Breaks, Covid tests, easyJet 17 MSC, Tradewind, Princess, Fred Olsen 18 Intrepid, Kuoni, Sandals, A&K, Andante 20


FRONTLINE Agent diary


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


FRONT COVER PICTURES: Shutterstock/ sumire8, Cristian Gusa; Crown Copyright


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US:


Kim Kent: Cornwall spurs me to sell UK 22 your Stories


Cat Jones reflects on the first year of Byway Travel


@travelweekly 23


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OEnjoyed reading some of the first nominations to come in for this year’s Agent Achievement Awards. Make sure you nominate deserving colleagues!


OHad great meetings with The Travel Corporation, Jet2holidays and Virgin Voyages about their trade plans for the rest of the year.


OCelebrated my daughter’s 12th birthday with a trip to see the Cruella film, family meal out, picnic and kayaking!


competitions


Win a sailing on Anthem of the Seas 24 Get Social


Legal challenge, Midcounties, Gooley 27


DESTINATIONS cruise


UK Restart: We report from the cruise on MSC’s Virtuosa that kicked off UK sailings 28


Alaska: Snapshot of cruising in region 34 River restart: Five lines’ resumptions 37


Viking: Q&A with Wendy Atkin-Smith 41 active & adventure


Kazakhstan: Inspire your ‘traveller’ clients to sample cultural cities and vast wild spaces in this Asian state 42


BUSINESS NEWS


Poll finds fall in trust for Abta and Atol 46 Vax certificate approval varies by age 46 UK hotels ‘recover rapidly’ since May 47 Outlook for business travel and aviation 47 Survey suggests traffic light unease 48


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 17 JUNE 2021 3


cruise


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