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LEADERS’ DINNER


6 Headline sponsor sponsors


Atas Leaders’ Dinner 2026 The Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers welcomed more than 50 guests to its fourth annual Leaders’ Dinner last


week. Speakers included Atas chair Niel Alobaidi and White Hart Associates’ Chris Photi, who both said the sector would bounce back strongly from ongoing


geopolitical challenges. The invitation-only event, which hosted more guests than ever before, was again held at Browns Covent Garden. The headline sponsor was Travelzoo, while Visit Malta was supporting sponsor and Virgin Atlantic sponsored the drinks reception.


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1. From left: Tolene van der Merwe, Visit Malta; Claire Brighton, Atas; James Clarke, Travelzoo; and Nicki Goldsmith, Virgin Atlantic 2. Andrew Turner, AE Expeditions; and Sam Conway and Luke Zuerner-Crane, both Travelzoo 3. Stu Parish, Travel Weekly; Kelly Cookes, InteleTravel; and John Sullivan, Advantage Travel Partnership 4. Raj Mistry, Railbookers; Caroline Thorne, East of England Co-op; and Richard Forde, Involved Holidays 5. Connie Georgiou, Silversea; Jessica Shelton-Agar, Travel Weekly/OTT; Sarah Lancashire, Gold Medal; and Sarah Szyszkiewicz, Trailfinders 6. Gary King, Wendy Wu Tours, and Ian Dines, Newmarket Holidays 7. Sally Cowdry, Exodus Adventure Travels; Joan Jones, Once in a Lifetime Holidays; Claire Moore, Peakes Travel Elite; and Raj Mistry 8. James Coughlan, Travel Department; Darren Bien, Designer Travel; and Neil Sealy, Exoticca 9. Kelly Jackson, TTC Tour Brands, and Claire Brighton 10. Julie Pinkney, TTNG; Vicky Billing, Riviera Travel; Sue Hare, Your Dreams Travel; and Fiona Pearcy, TTNG 11. Paul Waters, Premier Travel, and Chris Photi, White Hart Associates 12. Claire Moore and Hannah Porter, Travel By Hannah 13. Niel Alobaidi, Newmarket Holidays 14. Caroline Thorne; Josh Harford, Mercury Holidays; and Debbie Sowden, Not In The Guidebooks 15. Fireside Chat: Visit Malta’s Tolene van der Merwe with Lucy Huxley, Travel Weekly


12 23 APRIL 2026 travelweekly.co.uk


PICTURES: Steve Dunlop; Shutterstock/the8monkey


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