NEWS


Enquiries jump for US but consumers await vax clarity


Juliet Dennis


Enquiries for US holidays have jumped “significantly” but a lack of clarity on entry rules has impacted immediate departures. The US announced on Friday that


travel restrictions will be lifted from November 8 for foreign citizens fully vaccinated with Covid-19 vaccines approved for use by the World Health Organization or by the US Food and Drug Administration. But as Travel Weekly went to press, the US had yet to clarify if those aged 12 to 18 would need to be double-vaccinated and what tests would be needed pre-arrival.


Following the announcement, the


UK’s Foreign Office updated its travel advice, urging Britons to “wait and see” how entry requirements would be implemented. Gold Medal said sales spiked


“within hours” of the date being confirmed, with call volumes jumping 13% on the prior week. “It was our biggest week for


enquiries so far in 2021 and our second-best in terms of revenue,” said sales director Nick Hughes. USAirtours chief executive Guy


Novik said US sales had risen 50% in October after the announcement that borders would reopen, but added:


“Since we’ve been given the date, we’ve had a jump in enquiries from people due to travel in November and early December who now want to postpone until next year. “The lack of clarity around the age


you need to be double-vaccinated to go to the US is the number-one issue.” Premier Holidays sales and


marketing director Debbie Goffin agreed: “The news for the US has created a great deal of interest but not for immediate travel due to the lack of clarification.” The operator said US enquiry


levels were now on a par with 2019 but bookings in the past week were 74% up on the same week two years ago. The “vast majority” of its bookings and enquiries were for 2022, other than for this Christmas. Agents also reported increased


demand, mainly for Christmas or 2022. Average sales values were also


rising as clients “traded up”. Gold Medal said average booking values were 50% up on 2019, while USAirtours said average spend was up 20% as clients upgraded their hotel or chose to stay longer.


es CMA legal action


proceedings requesting a court order that outstanding refunds be immediately repaid and that, going forward, customers entitled to a refund are repaid within 14 days.” It will be asking the court to order that


Truly Holdings puts in place processes to ensure it complies with the law in the future and has asked for the claim to be heard quickly. CMA chief executive Andrea


Coscelli said: “Companies must abide by consumer protection law and treat their customers fairly.” Teletext Holidays said it was “very


disappointed” with the launch of legal action. It said it owed £1.2 million in refunds and had paid back £10.8 million. A Teletext statement said: “The company is working as hard as it can and continues to process the remaining refunds.”


travelweekly.co.uk Fred Holidays targets growth with sales recruits


Fred Holidays has made several appointments and expanded its product offering as it aims to double the size of its business through a restructure. The tailor-made operator has


recruited a number of experienced industry figures to beef up its sales team, including Sally Hauser, who worked at Great Rail Journeys, as product and sales manager; Jenny Wade, formerly of Viking Cruises, as key account manager; Claire Webb, who was also at Great Rail Journeys, as business development manager; and


Gemma Saunders, formerly of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines and Thomas Cook, as assistant reservations manager. Fred Holidays said it had used


the “incredibly challenging” past 18 months to “refocus and restructure” and was now “emerging from the pandemic stronger and more resilient than before”. The operator hopes to


double the size of its business from pre-pandemic levels over the next 12 months and


achieve further growth beyond October 2022. An increased tailor-made product offering for land, river and rail now includes ‘Rail & Sail’


Steve Williams


products, a Floriade Expo 2022 itinerary and rail trips in Switzerland and Norway. Managing director Steve


Williams said: “Fred Holidays is a great option for agents looking for a one-stop shop. “We are not only a trusted


brand offering good commission but thanks to our Atol bonding and Abta membership we are also risk-free, which is incredibly important, especially at this time. “With the expansion of our


tailor-made programme, the addition of some great people to the team and some more exciting developments to be revealed in due course, I feel confident Fred Holidays can achieve its growth objectives while continuing to support our loyal trade partners.”


21 OCTOBER 2021 7


Times Square, New York


PICTURES: Shutterstock/Kobby Dagan, kiszon pascal


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