Make a date with touring and adventure A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Growing up, I loved watching Cilla Black’s classic TV show Blind Date (for those under 25, it was a far tamer version of Love Island).
Little did I know that decades later, I’d be donning a mask of the Scouse icon in her home town of Liverpool to play a version of the programme with agents and operators. While lots of fun, the purpose of this gameshow recreation was to make a serious point to delegates at this year’s Atas Conference: that there is genuinely an escorted trip for everyone, regardless of their age, interests or budget (page 6 and pages 14-15). Once you appreciate that, it’s just about having the knowledge and expertise to create that perfect match. A record number of agents attended the conference to improve
those match-making skills by honing their knowledge, learning about products and itineraries, and getting advice on the best content and platforms to use to target different customers. More than 100 were new to the sector, and it was great to see their eyes widen as they learnt average commission on a touring and adventure holiday is £700 more than on a standard beach package. Not only that, the average selling prices of touring and adventure holidays are higher through the trade than direct, cancellation rates are much lower, and customer loyalty and repeat-passenger rates are some of the highest in the industry. Armed with that knowledge, it was hardly surprising that the agent delegates I spoke to were smitten with the sector. Definitely time to buy a new hat…
s Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS Cover photo
Atas Conference attendees, from left: Jamie Rogers, Premier Travel; Pippa Wilson, Travel Counsellors; Claire Brighton, Atas; Zoe Adams, Advantage Travel Partnership; and
Elizabeth Sagar Mendy, InteleTravel pages 6 & 14 Photo: Sarah Lucy Brown
Booking.com’s Atol ‘not for packages’ 4 Sector slated for ‘eco certification’ claims 4 Autumn demand ‘to top pre-Covid levels’ 5 US hails UK rebound; Atas sales value 6 26yo takes agency reins; MSC partners 8 Special Reports
Royal Caribbean eyes record sales 10 Classic Collection Conference, Crete 12 Atas Conference, Liverpool comment
14 Luke Petherbridge: Politicians and PTRs 16
NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Jet2, Premier, Wizz, Travelsphere, TTC 18 P&O Cruises, Azamara, Windstar
20 Tui revives beach holidays in Kenya 22 BUSINESS NEWS
THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:
INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020
FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Shutterstock/Boris-B, Denis Moskvinov, Nana studio; Patrick Rojo; Steve Dunlop
travelweekly.co.uk
FRONTLINE agent diary Clare Dudley: It’s a privilege to help create lifelong memories 23
FOLLOW US: @travelweekly
EasyJet sets profits target; Delta results 46 CMA Green Agreements Guidance:
travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 19 OCTOBER 2023 3
›Authority issues cooperation guide 47 Airlines’ disruption responses criticised 48
WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK
ORecorded a webcast with Tourhub chief executive Seamus Conlon about the company’s £1 million cash investment. It’s safe to say he has big ambitions.
OCo-hosted a live training webinar for agents with Karen Farndell of Holland America Line, all about cruising in Alaska.
OWas delighted to celebrate with my son after he passed his driving test – third time lucky!
YOUR STORIES
Sue Callow’s 50 years at Lancing Travel 24 competitions
Win a £60k private jet trip with Titan 25
DESTINATIONS Festive breaks Guide: From Christmas markets across Europe to festivities over Yuletide and New Year, with these 12 trips you’ve got it wrapped 26
canada
Halifax: Find out how the city’s historic and naval sights are being complemented by new tourism attractions 37
Cruise: Three experts suggest top sailings along Canada’s eastern provinces
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