Thomas Cook has industry’s support A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


It has been painful to watch Thomas Cook’s latest troubles unfold, but heartening to hear of the trade reaction. Cook’s poor results last week took investors by surprise and the


resulting media coverage compelled the group to reassure consumers it won’t go bust. Unfortunately, that seldom puts doubts to rest, so it is a blessing that Atol provides an ultimate guarantee. Goodness knows the market was difficult enough. The reason for


Cook’s headline losses – a write-down of the value of the MyTravel business with which Cook merged 12 years ago – will be lost on consumers. Let’s hope the support of Cook’s banks proves enough to ward off further speculation. This is not the first time Cook’s existence has been called into question


and it has survived. It may well be the group goes forward in changed form if it succeeds in selling its airline. In the end, the banks will be decisive, but it’s important Cook has support. Many agents have rallied to promote Cook as we report (page 5), and attendees at The Advantage Travel Partnership conference in Cadiz at the weekend were clear in their desire to see the group continue operating. As Alan Cross, trade sales boss of Jet2holidays – now one of Cook’s greatest rivals – told a Travel Weekly Business Breakfast in March: “I would not like anything to happen to Thomas Cook. It would be bad for the industry and for consumer confidence.” All at Travel Weekly share that view.


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


Fulfilled a career dream by interviewing Sir Richard Branson at the Clia Conference


Presented a fun session on luxury travel at the Advantage Conference in Cadiz in the style of hit TV show Family Fortunes, with six high-end suppliers


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group ISSUE 2,476 TRAVELWEEKLY.CO.UK 23 MAY 2019 CONTENTS


Sir Richard Branson outlines his vision for Virgin Voyages at the Clia Conference


ways Indian cities thomas cook Turmoil Polka Dot Travel expansion


Mumbai, Bangalore and Amritsar


White knight 3


WIN driving experience A Ferrari FRONT COVER


From left: Vilma Polinaire, Polinaire Travel; Tom


McAlpin, Virgin Voyages; Steve Morrish, Imagine


Cruising; Laura Sharples, Travel Counsellors; and Sir Richard Branson Photo: Steve Dunlop


NEWS Retail ‘will change’; Polka Dot expands 4 Agents back Cook after £1.4bn loss 5 Dance group seeks cruise; Tui training 6 Agents book footie fans; mental health 8 Conference reportS Advantage Conference, Cadiz 10


Abta Accessible Tourism, London 12


Clia Conference, Soton/Portsmouth 14 Special report Celebrity Edge hosts 900 agents


17


Comment Steve Dunne: Brands must innovate 18


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Leger, Saint Lucia, Funway, Sardatur 21 Operator Intrepid, Jet2, Explore, Cyplon Cruise


22


Shearings, Emerald, Saga, Fred Olsen 26 FOLLOW US: -@travelweekly


travelweekly.co.uk /


DESTINATIONS UK & Ireland


Isles of Scilly: old-school island charm 44 Butlin’s: new pool at Bognor resort Snapshot: Belfast’s key sights Asia


51 54


India: Mumbai, Bangalore, Amritsar 56 Japan: monsters and more in Tōhoku 63


BUSINESS NEWS Fankhauser warns of shop closures 70 Results: Tui, Ryanair and easyJet Cook shares plunge after results


71 72


travelweeklyuk , @travelweeklyuk 23 MAY 2019 3


Took part – and came joint second with Regent’s Paul Beale! – in the Clia 5k fun run in aid of the Family Holiday Association


FRONTLINE Get Social Letters, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram 33 agent diary Kim Kent, Spear Travels


This Week in… 1974, 1994 and 2009


34 36


Your Stories Michelle Stammers, aka Travel Genius 38 Mystery Shopper Aberdeen


42


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