Support for the next generation is vital A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


With the summer solstice this week and schools north of the border soon starting to break up, we are officially entering the peak season for the travel industry. More so than ever, the summer will be a crucial opportunity to realise some meaningful revenue and boost pandemic-impacted finances. But with operational and staffing issues continuing to squeeze every sector of the industry, there is an understandable sense of trepidation about how the season will pan out. This week, we saw more airlines and airports taking pre-emptive action in an attempt to minimise disruption, but there remain many challenges, in the air and on the ground, in key destinations that are out of UK operators’ control (page 5).


A common theme facing agents and operators is a lack of trained staff (page 4) and addressing


this shortfall will be crucial not just in the short-term, but also in the years and decades to come. Initiatives such as the Future You Foundation, announced at last week’s ITT Conference, will play an important role in attracting the next generation of industry workers, and I hope those who are able will support its outreach and educational work (page 6). I am also delighted that Travel Weekly will play its part, working with Abta and a range of


partners to bring back our prospectus-style publication and website Take Off in Travel this autumn after a three-year hiatus (page 6). As the industry battles to showcase its ability to offer rewarding careers, initiatives and resources like these will be more essential than ever.


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS


Bookings hold firm despite cost of living 4 Agencies moot closures amid staff crisis 4 Trade welcomes cut in flight schedules 5 Future You seeks £50k; Take Off returns 6 Abta reveals speakers; Tradewind woes 8 Special Reports


carefully does it


The Travel Village Group’s customer care team wins in-house accolade page 26


Virgin Atlantic champions individuality 10 Lata Expo 2022, Battersea, London 12 comment


Lisa McAuley: Service remains the key 14 NEWS YOU CAN USE


Riviera, Atlas Ocean, Gambia, MVP 19 JG brands increase festive capacity 20 Hurtigruten, AmaWaterways, Windstar 22


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Shutterstock/ Seeker1983, Isidoros Andronos, Nitsawan Katerattanakul, Urbanscape; Barcelo; Steve Dunlop


travelweekly.co.uk


FRONTLINE Your Stories GoCruise agency Joanie, Tony and Sam Blakey 24


close-up Travel Village, Blue Bay, Club Med 26


FOLLOW US: @travelweekly


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


O Had great meetings with a carbon offsetting company and a payment solutions firm, both looking to engage more with travel companies.


OGot as much done in the office as possible on Monday ahead of the rail and Tube strikes this week.


OEnjoyed a Mexican-themed night with colleagues as an after-work social, complete with sombreros, piñatas and too much tequila!


competitions


Win Virgin flights and Seabourn fam 28 Get Social


Flight cuts, Gold Medal, Tipto, King 29


DESTINATIONS ALL-INCLUSIVE HOLIDAYS 2022 Openings: Our pick of eight of the best new properties to suggest to your customers this year 32


Mexico: Q&A with Heriberto Cota Castellanos of Moon Palace Cancun 38 greece & Cyprus


Athens: Marvel not just at ancient wonders such as the Parthenon but also at the city’s lush green spaces 40


BUSINESS NEWS


Travel Convention 2022 preview: Tanzer: Sector ‘stigmatised’ for delays 46 Abta ‘hit right balance’ on rise in subs 47 ‘We will tout merits of career in travel’ 47 ‘High demand’ forecast for convention 48


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 23 JUNE 2022 3


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