NEWS Boris
Johnson’s election win led to upbeat predictions among trade
Trade hopes for ‘big Boris bounce’ in January peaks
Juliet Dennis
Travel firms are confident of a “big Boris bounce” in 2020 peak season sales following last week’s general election result. Operators and agents
gave upbeat predictions about post-Christmas trading based on increased economic certainty that Brexit will go ahead on January 31. Welcoming the clarity created by
consumers know the timetable. “There is pent-up demand and
STORY TOP
we are hoping for a good result; the mood of the nation has lifted.” Cosmos chief executive Giles Hawke agreed: “Customers will have greater confidence to commit to booking in peaks. I’d expect to see an improvement from a booking perspective.” The Travel
Network Group chief executive
prime minister Boris Johnson’s ‘get Brexit done’ mantra, businesses said they were preparing for a busy period after months of pent-up demand. Kuoni UK managing
director Derek Jones said: “In the office we are talking about the ‘big Boris bounce’ in January. After the last three years, now at least
travelweekly.co.uk
Gary Lewis was also optimistic. “We can now all move forward,” he added. Aito chairman Derek Moore
sounded a note of caution. “There might be a delayed start with people waiting until February and March to book [after the January 31 Brexit deadline].” James Clarke, UK general
manager of deals publisher Travelzoo,
There is pent-up demand and we are hoping for a good result; the mood has lifted
said the immediate reaction in the markets to the election result had already been positive with the pound strengthening against both the euro and the dollar. He added: “It is going to be bit of
a ketchup bottle scenario, in the sense it has been building up. As long as Boris and the politicians don’t come up with anything left field I think people will start spending.” European holiday sales could
also “bounce back”, predicted Clarke, with price drops in Spain, the Canaries and Greece as a result of
competition from Egypt and Tunisia. But the trade flagged implications
of Brexit on trading later in 2020. While Sunvil chairman Noel
Josephides does not expect a repeat of this January, when bookings were hit by uncertainty and fears of a no deal, he suggested “some of the little things, the little inconveniences” likely to follow Brexit “will begin to affect people [and] could upset people”. Alistair Rowland, chief retail
officer for specialist business at Midcounties Co-operative, warned “the debate would move from Brexit to the implications of the transitional agreement” despite creating a positive outlook for peaks. This could hit consumer
confidence, forecast Jones. “The real challenge will be at the end of 2020, that could create a second cliff edge.”
19 DECEMBER 2019 5
PICTURE: Shutterstock
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 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74
