Dedicated courses are the gold standard A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


I am writing this week’s column while on the train to dnata Travel Group’s offices in Leyland, Lancashire. As well as looking forward to catching up with senior members of the team, I’m also very excited to be attending a ‘graduation’ ceremony the company is hosting for AS Training’s latest cohort of apprentices. This focus on the next generation is particularly timely as, back in the


Travel Weekly office, the team are putting the final touches to this year’s edition of our annual careers publication Take Off in Travel. And my trip to the northwest also comes as those in the industry tasked with shaping our future leaders are starting to get their heads around a shake-up of post-16 education and the launch of a consultation on the government’s proposed V-level qualifications (page 4).


While a focus on creating more vocational qualifications is welcome, the devil will be in the detail of how they are introduced and if travel and tourism gets the focus it deserves and currently receives under the BTec system. Of course, there is value in broader business-focused qualifications which teach skills that can transfer to our sector. But with the regulatory and structural landscape of the industry constantly evolving, it is essential that young learners have the opportunity to gain the specific knowledge to succeed in travel. Not all industry leaders started their careers with travel and tourism qualifications and


apprenticeships, but plenty did. We must support those who will be fighting the sector’s corner to ensure these proven routes into the industry remain open and fit for purpose.


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


Resorthoppa failure under investigation 4 V-level qualification cautiously welcomed4 ‘Zombie’ firms struggled to renew Atols 5 UK-US market ‘to grow’; APT 2026 aim 6 Major Travel cruise tool; Gulf Air pledge 8 conference Report


COVER photo


Pictured at the Advantage Latitude Cruise Conference on board Princess Cruises’ Sky Princess are, from left: Dale Sourbutts, New Travel; Gilli Knight, Travel Den; Hayley Moore, Princess Cruises;


Jonny Peat, Advantage Travel Partnership; and Pauline


Woodruff, Fred Olsen Travel page 10


Photo: Princess Cruises/Armi Tolentino


Advantage Latitude Cruise Conference 10 comment


Jacqueline Dobson: Empowering staff 12


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product


P&O Cruises, Jet2Weddings, Newmarket15 Exodus Adventure Travels, Just You


16 MSC, CroisiEurope, Quark, Princess 18


FRONTLINE agent diary


Clare Dudley: Our marketing approach 23 Your Stories Lancashire-based Greig Horabin, Just Ask Travel 24


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Josie Withers; Shutterstock/Scharfsinn, Valery Bareta; Steve Dunlop


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly close-up


Morocco, Antigua, Dubai, Glasgow 28 competitions Win a Hawaiian-style wellness gift card 30


DESTINATIONS australasia


Melbourne: Your 48-hour guide to Australia’s cool second city as new flights and hotels boost appeal 32


Queensland: Q&A with Juan Walker of Walkabout Cultural Adventures


37


spain & portugal Gran Canaria: History, heritage and some welcome heat make Las Palmas a hot ticket for a winter break 38 42


Majorca: Postcard from Calvià BUSINESS NEWS


DfT consults on levy underpinning SAF 46 Iata launches battery-risk campaign 47 Macquarie takes over London City 47 Analysis: Tax rises predicted in Budget 48


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 23 OCTOBER 2025 3


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OFlew back from Asia after an amazing week in China and Japan with Royal Caribbean and our Fortune Awaits agent winners, including a four-night cruise.


OSifted through some incredible entries for the Globe Travel Awards special categories – watch out for the voting supplement soon!


OMade my return to the hockey pitch to play alongside my daughter for the first time. We lost 2-1 but I absolutely loved it!


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