PTR revision branded ‘waste of time’ Ian Taylor


Industry lawyers have warned a revision of the Package Travel Regulations (PTRs) requiring suppliers to reimburse package organisers when they contribute to a cancellation will make no difference to smaller businesses. Regulation 29 of the revised


PTRs will require suppliers, such as airlines and hotels, to refund organisers within 14 days of a cancellation or of the date a travel service was due, with organisers retaining the right to claim damages from a supplier. However, Alex Padfield,


director at Hextalls Law, described Regulation 29 as “a bit of a waste


of time in most cases”. Speaking at the Abta Travel Law Seminar last week, Padfield said: “Unless you’re powerful and rich, is Regulation 29 giving you very much? If you’re a small or medium-sized company (SME) and you need money back from a supplier, you can say ‘Give me my money back’ and they can say ‘I don’t care’.” He argued: “If you have a good


contract, you have a basis for action. If you don’t, maybe you can use Regulation 29, but the issue of enforceability remains and you have the cost of litigation.” Themis Advisory director Joanna


Kolatsis agreed, telling the seminar: “It’s great we have [the revised regulation], but it will be hard to use it.


US demand steady as Brand USA issues myth-busting guide


Travel Weekly reporters


US specialists have reported steady demand despite concerns over perceptions of the destination prompting tourism chiefs to launch a myth-busting fact guide to reassure consumers. Fears of a so-called “Trump


slump” in 2025 failed to materialise in the UK, with official figures showing UK visitor numbers up 0.5% year on year, though the market for this year to the end of April was 0.9% down on the same period last year. However, marketing organisation


Brand USA acknowledged concern in some source markets about


4 21 MAY 2026


issues including visas, social media checks, the arrivals process and national park fees as it unveiled a ‘Get Facts. Get Going.’ online guide to “address misperceptions head-on”. USAirtours chairman Guy


Novik said the operator was trading 8% ahead of the prior year, which he attributed to securing greater market share and expanding its agent network. But he added: “Based on feedback, we think overall bookings year on year are flat for the UK market at best.” Novik noted a shift towards


later sales, saying: “Usually less than 10% of our holidays depart within six months, but currently


Is a US hotel chain


or a Middle East carrier going to comply with the PTRs? You will have challenges


I would expect suppliers to push back. “Is a US hotel chain or a Middle


East carrier going to comply with the PTRs? You will have challenges, depending on the size of your business. If you’re an SME, you won’t have the bargaining power.” Willa Huang, head of core


consumer rights at the Department for Business and Trade (DBT), which drafted the PTRs, told the seminar:


“We believe the regulations recognise the broader rights and interactions between package organisers and suppliers and we’ve attempted to clarify [these].” Huang said: “We’re sympathetic.


We hope the revisions to Regulation 29 will help.” She noted: “We’re also taking steps to beef up the consumer enforcement landscape.” However, Sunvil chair Noel


Josephides said: “At the moment, we find it extremely difficult to obtain refunds from airlines, especially overseas airlines. We’re forced to go to the small claims court [and] have to wait years sometimes for refunds.” The revised regulations are due to


come into force from next April. i Abta Travel Law Seminar, page 46


Brand USA guide ‘Get Facts. Get Going.’


almost 30% of new bookings are departing this summer.” America As You Like It product


director Cath Pusey said demand had been “more measured than expected” but also noted a later-booking trend for this summer in addition to healthy advance sales for 2027. Ocean Holidays co-chief


executive Harry Hastings noted a “gradual uptick” in bookings, with Florida sales boosted by Disney’s early-booking offer, and said some families were locking in Florida trips as far ahead as 2029. He also highlighted a spike in Kissimmee villa bookings in June,


which he said could be linked to the Fifa World Cup despite overall sales connected to the tournament “not yet converting at the level many may have expected”. Despite the broadly positive


trading reports, some agencies said customers were avoiding the US, with Paramount Cruises noting a move away from US departures and twin-centres for Caribbean itineraries. Brand USA said its guide


addressed “confusion among some international travellers”, adding: “In each case, the facts tell a far more welcoming story than what travellers are hearing.”


travelweekly.co.uk


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