Sales levels still modest but ‘confidence building’


Juliet Dennis


Travel firms have reported a mixed sales picture following the resumption of international travel but said rising consumer confidence was behind a shift in demand from 2022 to later this year. Advantage Travel Partnership


said about 70% of members’ sales were for 2022 prior to the green list announcement. Last week, however, it reported almost 60% of bookings were for holidays this year. Leisure director Kelly Cookes


said: “We saw an initial boost in sales once the list was announced and Portugal and Madeira continue to sell well. We are also seeing consumer confidence grow for later in the summer and enquiries continue to increase, which is positive.” The consortium is not actively


promoting amber destinations but giving guidance to agents whose clients want to book. “Some members are [booking


amber destinations] but more so for July onwards, and others have chosen not to at this stage – most are being led by the customer,” she added. Miles Morgan Travel enjoyed its


strongest sales in 14 months during the last two weeks. Chairman Miles


Morgan predicted that a gradual rise in green destinations, complemented by clients’ posts on social media, would “cause optimism and confidence to build” this summer. “I am upbeat; a slow [restart] is a


winner for me,” he said. Haslemere Travel owner Gemma


Antrobus said a last-minute sales rush was likely as countries turned green, adding: “We just need happy clients to come back telling people on Facebook they’ve had a great time.” Many agents said sales remained


sluggish due to the short green list. Polka Dot Travel director Mark


Johnson said: “Price is no issue, [but] bookings are still slow and the market is still flat”. But he added: “I am still


CMA warns travel companies to adhere to refund obligations


The Competition and Markets Authority published an open letter to the travel sector warning companies to respect the refund rights of holidaymakers ahead of the summer. The letter was also sent directly to 100 travel firms with the most complaints about them, with a reminder of their legal obligations and of the need to ensure refund options are clear and accessible to potential customers.


6 20 MAY 2021


hopeful of a strong summer from July onwards.” Bailey’s Travel managing director


Chris Bailey said: “Business is still pretty stagnant. One country does not make a summer.” Spear Travels chairman Peter


Cookson agreed: “There are some sales to Portugal but minimal.” He said “confusion rules” as a


result of the difference between travel advice from the Foreign Office and the Department for Transport, adding: “We are not promoting amber countries but note that Tui is sending a strong signal to (transport


secretary) Shapps.” i Miles Morgan, page 14 i Tui’s amber stance, page 46


Disneyland Paris sets out safety measures for June 17 reopening


Disneyland Paris will reopen on June 17 with restricted numbers and enhanced health and safety measures. A limited number of tickets will be available each day using an online reservation system. The company said the reopening would feature “enhanced measures that were successfully implemented last year”. France is currently on the amber travel list.


Eurostar seals £250m refinance deal with shareholders and banks


Eurostar has agreed a £250 million refinancing package with its shareholders and banks. The deal comprises £50 million in additional shareholder equity, £150 million in shareholder- guaranteed loans from a syndicate of banks and £50 million from restructured loan facilities. Eurostar said the deal would enable it to “continue to operate this vital link and meet its financial obligations in the short to mid-term”.


travelweekly.co.uk


Albufeira, Portugal


Shapps says ‘yes’ to Off Broadway Travel invitation


Transport secretary Grant Shapps has agreed to visit an agency in his constituency after bosses challenged him about his inference that agents were a thing of the past. Off Broadway Travel launched a


social media campaign after Shapps talked of “what people would have called travel agents in the past” during a televised Downing Street briefing (Travel Weekly, May 13). Speaking during a BBC local


radio interview, Shapps backtracked on his initial comments and insisted they had been “misunderstood”, adding he had intended to suggest people book travel in different ways. He said: “Travel agents are a


fantastic way to book and have been through a hell of a difficult time over this past year.” Off Broadway Travel partner


Natalie Bennett welcomed the news that Shapps intended to take up the agency on its offer, saying: “We don’t want to have a go at him. We just want him to see the hard work we’ve been doing for the past 15 months.”


Grant Shapps


PICTURE: Shutterstock/Botond Horvath


Richard Townshend Photography


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