NEWS
ICE TO SEE YOU: Silversea Cruises has christened Silver Endeavour in Antarctica, four months after the line bought the expedition vessel from Crystal Cruises. It is the first cruise ship to be christened in Antarctica’s Lemaire Channel. The 200-passenger ship was named by the ship’s godmother, polar explorer Felicity Aston MBE. Aston, who became the first woman to ski solo across Antarctica in 2012, blessed Silver Endeavour for good fortune and cut a ribbon alongside captain Niklas Peterstam on the ship, triggering an ice-sculpted bottle to smash against the hull. The ceremony was the line’s third ship naming in nine months following Silver Origin in February and Silver Dawn in April.
Trade cheers rates relief but fears impact of tax squeezes on sales
Juliet Dennis
The trade has welcomed the government’s decision to extend business rates relief for high street retailers but warned over rising costs and an increasing squeeze on consumers’ disposable incomes. As predicted, chancellor
Jeremy Hunt announced tens of billions in tax rises and spending cuts in his Autumn Statement last week. But in a move that exceeded
pleased to see the government act on our calls to extend business rate relief for retailers and will continue to make the case that tour operators should be eligible for similar support.” But chief executive Mark Tanzer
STORY TOP
business expectations, he announced an extension and rise in the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure relief scheme from 50% to 75% for 2023-24, up to £110,000 per business. Around 230,000 business
properties will receive a £2.1 billion tax cut next year as a result. Abta director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge said: “We were
travelweekly.co.uk
cautioned next April’s review of business rates could hike costs for firms, adding: “We will continue to stress to government the unique position of the travel industry given the reopening of international travel was
significantly later than the rest of the UK economy and the need for ongoing support.” Advantage Travel Partnership said
it would gauge agents’ responses to the Autumn Statement through its Business Impact Survey, now under way, as members’ sales continued to rise above 2019 levels. Chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said: “It’s too early to say what direct
impact the Autumn Budget has had on sales or our membership, and we’re unlikely to see a true reflection for some weeks.” She had earlier labelled Hunt’s
announcement “underwhelming and disappointing” for small businesses. Tony Mann, director of Idle
Travel, agreed: “The statement was a bit underwhelming in parts but I’ve taken the positives of business rates relief, even though there will be a re-evaluation.” The chancellor also announced
the National Living Wage would increase from April 1 from £9.50 to £10.42 an hour for those over 23, and a reduction in the threshold at which the 45p rate of income tax becomes payable, from earnings above £150,000 to those on more than £125,140, also from April 2023. Martyn Sumners, executive
director of Aito, The Specialist Travel Association, admitted: “An increase
in the National Living Wage will hit SMEs hard – especially our travel agency colleagues.” He also feared a reduction in
consumers’ propensity to spend on travel, saying: “Halving the capital gains tax allowance, and the increase in – and freezing of – many other tax allowance levels, coupled with extreme inflation, will lead to a reduction in middle England’s spending power and will not curb demand for higher wages.” The statement was announced as
the sector was told not to “gamble” on a strong January sales period. Speaking at the Jet2holidays
conference, chief executive Steve Heapy urged agents to encourage early bookings. “We’re working hard in the lead-up to peaks to bring forward the sale curve. I would urge everyone to do that – do not gamble
on a strong January,” he said. i Jet2holidays conference, page 10
24 NOVEMBER 2022 5
PICTURE: Silversea Cruises
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