Cruise sector’s efforts are bearing fruit A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


Last week, I had the opportunity to catch up with Royal Caribbean Group’s outgoing chief executive, Richard Fain, and his successor, Jason Liberty (page 10). As always, Richard was great company and demonstrated the honesty and integrity that made his video updates during the darkest days of the pandemic such essential viewing. And it was clear from Jason’s input, and comments made later by


Royal Caribbean International chief Michael Bayley at the naming of Odyssey of the Seas, quite how much the company feels indebted to him. Richard is far from alone in leading a global cruise brand with great


personality, humour and professionalism – the sector is blessed with passionate and inspiring leaders and it is testament to their work that


cruising has made such a rapid rebound. Just 20 months ago, cruise was the scapegoat of the industry as the pandemic developed, with ships dominating news headlines and plenty jumping on the bandwagon to suggest they were inherently unsafe. Since that point, the sector in the UK and overseas has engaged with governments and medical authorities to create a safe platform for resumption. And those efforts are increasingly bearing fruit, to the extent that Bayley is predicting a “stunning” wave period in the UK (page 8). Of course, his job is to generate enthusiasm and sales, so he would hardly be downbeat. But his confident tone will be music to the ears of cruise agents who have waited so long for this opportunity to return, and who will be desperate for him to be proved right in the months ahead.


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


Booster proof ‘not required for UK entry’ 4 ‘Bigger budgets needed for CO2 targets’ 4 New restrictions could hit winter sales 5 Cruise agents report booming sales


COVER photo


Royal Caribbean International; Elaine Truesdale, Oasis Travel; and Leesa Kilcollins, Tui Photo: ConradUSA


From left: Ally Fitzpatrick, Scotland’s Cruise Centre; Michael Blackburn, Perfect Getaways; Michael Bayley,


Special Reports Ship naming: Odyssey of the Seas


The Interview: Royal Caribbean Group’s Richard Fain and Jason Liberty Comment


6 8


10 Steve Dunne: Sector lacks wider view 12


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Audley, TourRadar, Riviera, National 15 Leger Holidays adds battlefields tours 17 APT, MSC/Saudia, Uniworld, Princess 18


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


FRONTLINE Your Stories Scott Anderson on starting a new cruise business and becoming a foster parent 20


PICTURES: Shutterstock/Svetlana SF; Dany Eid FOLLOW US: travelweekly.co.uk @travelweekly


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OModerated our flagship event for the luxury travel sector, Aspire’s Leaders of Luxury conference, at London’s Andaz Hotel.


OHad great meetings with a destination, an expedition company and a cruise line about their plans for the trade in 2022.


OTried on the dress I bought in March 2020 for the Globes 2021 then never got to wear! I left it in the shop to be altered and forgot what it even looked like!


agent diary


Sharon Thompson: NI officials receptive 21 competitions


Trips to Dubai, Gran Canaria, Canada 22 Get Social Trusts, Ryanair, Tui, BP’s Steve Martin 25


DESTINATIONS Middle East & North Africa Dubai: Expo 2020 has finally opened but there’s plenty more new to discover in this astonishing emirate 26


Food & drink Holidays Literary Experiences: From Hemingway’s Florida to Kafka’s Prague, follow in six authors’ food footsteps 32


BUSINESS NEWS


Iata to set emissions reporting standard 38 ‘PR battle on emissions has been lost’ 38 UNWTO urges sector to act faster


39


Guest behaviour ‘can be challenging’ 39 Walsh calls for SAF production ‘at scale’ 40


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 18 NOVEMBER 2021 3


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