NEWS
Dame Irene names P&O’s Iona ahead of UK cruise restart
Travel Weekly reporters
Dame Irene Hays officially named P&O Cruises’ new ship Iona on Sunday as the cruise sector geared up for its restart in UK waters. The chair of Hays Travel was
hailed as a “saviour” of the industry by P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow in a reference to the decision alongside her late husband John to rescue Thomas Cook’s retail business following its collapse in 2019. Dame Irene paid tribute to John,
who died last November, telling a global virtual audience of more than
25,000 people: “[The past year] has been incredibly difficult for the travel industry. It has been incredibly difficult losing John and therefore to receive a call to be invited to have the honour of being involved in the launch of Iona was a huge privilege.” Speaking during a quayside
ceremony in Southampton hosted by DJ and presenter Jo Whiley and featuring a performance from Take That frontman Gary Barlow, Ludlow added: “In a year when our business, similar to many others, has faced challenges like no other, it is fitting that Iona’s godmother is someone
Irene Hays and Paul Ludlow launch Iona in Southampton
who has shown support and fierce passion for the travel industry for over 40 years.” Iona will sail its maiden voyage on
August 7 to Scottish islands including Iona. The vessel was named just hours before UK cruises were permitted to resume and a day before another new ship, Viking Cruises’ Viking Venus, was christened by broadcaster Anne Diamond ahead of a series of sailings from Portsmouth from Saturday. MSC Cruises’ new ship MSC Virtuosa was due to be the first to
resume UK cruises with its maiden journey around the British Isles from Southampton scheduled for Thursday (May 20). Speaking as Virtuosa arrived in
Southampton last week, the line’s UK managing director, Antonio Paradiso, said: “The arrival of our flagship MSC Virtuosa into Southampton today is an exciting moment as we prepare to welcome UK guests back on board. We are proud to be the first cruise line to
set sail from UK waters this summer.” i Cruise: Destinations, page 24
Abta takes legal steps over grants Juliet Dennis
The trade has welcomed Abta’s first legal steps over restart grants just as a separate campaign group of more than 600 agents began lobbying government on the same issue. Solicitors have sent the government
a ‘letter before claim’ advising of Abta’s intention to take legal action. A formal response is expected next week. Abta is specifically challenging
the level of Restart Grants awarded to high street agents in comparison with other sectors such as hospitality, which have been entitled to bigger grants despite more certainty of income. Abta is also demanding extended financial aid for the sector. Henbury Travel owner Richard
travelweekly.co.uk
Slater said Abta’s legal challenge came “not a minute too soon”. Bailey’s Travel managing
director Chris Bailey “applauded” the move but added: “I think they had to be prompted before they did [take action].” Haslemere Travel owner Gemma
Antrobus, whose agency is not a member of Abta, welcomed the legal initiative as a move that could “benefit the industry as a whole”. “The sector has been hung out to
dry,” she said. “This is the issue we appreciate the most support on.” Despite the broad welcome for
the move, an independent campaign group was launched by agents, many of whom feel Abta’s lobbying has been insufficient.
once again” and for more clarity on the government’s traffic light system for overseas travel. Pole Travel director Jill Waite,
who founded the group with Westoe Travel director Graeme Brett and has created a dedicated Facebook page which is open to all agents, said: “This summer could be harder than last year. Our sector still cannot trade.” The letter claims there is a “very
The Travel Agent Reform Group
Engaged Together (Target) more than doubled its initial membership of 300 in its first week and has written to transport secretary Grant Shapps asking for a meeting to discuss support needed “to get us to a point where our businesses are viable
real prospect” of job losses among more than 20,000 staff employed at the industry’s 3,000-plus agencies. Waite hopes more agents will join
Target. She added: “We feel Abta has not represented grassroots agents well; they could have challenged the government more.”
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PICTURE: Christopher Ison Photography/James Robinson
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