CONFERENCE Jet2 VIP Travel Agent Conference 2026: Operator hosts 350 agent and supplier


Demand ‘remains robust’ despite Middle East conflict


F


amilies will continue to prioritise holidays even as the Middle East conflict threatens to ramp up


prices and the wider cost of living, Jet2holidays’ Alan Cross told agents at the operator’s conference. Cross, director of travel agent


relationships, dismissed concerns that rising costs would dampen demand, saying: “Every bill in life has gone up, so why shouldn’t we expect it from the travel industry? It won’t hamper demand. “For most people, a holiday is


an essential – it’s not a luxury – to the extent that they’ll sacrifice other things to make sure they get a five, seven, 10 or 14-night holiday.” Cross echoed a report from Jet2


chief executive Steve Heapy that Turkey and Cyprus sales had collapsed since the US and Israel attracked Iran on February 28, but said the overall market remained robust. “We’ve got to make sure we’re


prepared and stay in touch with our We’ve got to be


prepared to make the bookings that are there today, primarily in the lates market


customers to take every opportunity to make the bookings that are there today, primarily in the lates market for April, May and June,” he said. “There is a demand for that there.” Cross added: “Predominantly the


western Mediterranean is stronger than the eastern Mediterranean, but it doesn’t mean the eastern Med isn’t booking at all – we’ve got strong sales in Malta and Bulgaria, which demonstrates this. “Yes, Turkey and Cyprus are


affected [by the Iran conflict], but people are still looking and we’re going to make sure we’re in touch with these customers who want those destinations – and when they’re


HOW WAS THE CONFERENCE FOR YOU?


Shaun Taylor, Inspire Travel by Shaun “I had an absolutely amazing time. I learnt


a lot and had lots of fun as well. It was great to see a different area of Spain and it was also my first time staying in an Iberostar hotel – I thought the food was very good. The content that Jet2holidays put on was a good mix of informative and fun.”


Catherine Thorpe, Aurora Dream Travels “This was my first time


attending a Jet2 conference and it really epitomised what Jet2 stands for. It was fun and they really smashed it with a fantastic setting. The hotel was beautiful and I had never been to a hotel where the food was of such variety and quality.”


Sarah Taylor, Gates Travel “I hadn’t been to a Jet2 conference before and I thought


it was really good and informative. It was interesting to learn about the new destination opening up with the Jerez flight from Manchester, which will be big for us because it’s our nearest airport. It’s an exciting opportunity for us to have a new destination to sell.”


Heapy eyes rebound in


Jet2holidays chief executive Steve Heapy is pushing to secure a “sharp spike in bookings” for Turkey and Cyprus when the ongoing Middle East conflict ends. Heapy, who apologised to agents


for being unable to join the conference, said he was “stuck in London” speaking to politicians and the Civil Aviation Authority amid the US-Israel war on Iran. He revealed he was also trying to


secure improved rates for hotels in Turkey and Cyprus, which have been suffering from a slump in demand since the conflict escalated two weeks prior.


ready to book, travel agents are ready to take the booking.” Jet2holidays’ trade sales were


continuing to grow, he added, albeit at a slower rate than historic levels. “We’re not going to see the growth


we got in the early days, but what we’re seeing is growth in line with the forecast and the budgets,” he said. Cross added he was pleased


with how the 11th edition of the conference had gone. “Every year we try to make it


the best conference ever and I think we’ve done it again,” he said.


10


19 MARCH 2026


travelweekly.co.uk


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