Atol merits praise as travel’s safety net A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


Atol reform is a complex and sometimes prickly subject, depending on your business model and standpoint on segregation of funds. It’s also fair to say it’s probably not the first topic of conversation among friends in the pub, unless you have a particular interest in the regulation of the travel industry. Despite this complexity – and the lengthy and ongoing consultation


process, which is now set to continue throughout this year (page 4) – few would deny the importance of getting it right for both travel companies and consumers. Since it was first called upon following the Court Line collapse in 1974, the Atol scheme has kicked into action for numerous high-profile


failures – from Laker Airways and ILG in the 80s and 90s to XL Leisure Group, Monarch and Thomas Cook in more recent times. Since 2000 alone, the scheme has repatriated almost a quarter of a million holidaymakers


and settled more than 1.7 million claims for future bookings with failed operators. While no company failure reflects well on the industry, the safety net of Atol has helped temper some of its reputational damage by protecting many of the customers affected. As I write this column, stakeholders are preparing to gather at Westminster for a reception to mark the first 50 years of the scheme – and no doubt debate its future. While very few in business have much time for regulation, most in the industry would agree the Atol scheme has been a benefit since its founding more than half a century ago.


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


NEWS Atol experts welcome reform delay


4


Globes 2024 Photo special from this


year’s spectacular ceremony pages 33-65


Photos: Steve Dunlop, Sarah Lucy Brown


Trade calls for quicker FCDO updates 4 Agents tip payday boost for family sales 5 Royal names Icon; easyJet’s trade plans 6 Border Travel turns 60; Oasis opening 8 comment


Steve Dunne: Upselling needs deft touch 10


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Tui, Ryanair, Alfa, Caledonian Leisure 13 CV Villas, Leger, First Class, AAT Kings 14 MSC, Viking, Celestyal, Princess


FRONTLINE agent diary


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Steve Dunlop; Royal Caribbean/We Fly Aerial Media; Alexandros Ioannidis; Shutterstock/Khoroshunova Olga


travelweekly.co.uk


competitions Taylor Swift tickets, trips to Mexico and the Galápagos 30


FOLLOW US: @travelweekly


David Walker: Peaks is an apt name 24 Your Stories InteleTravel’s Rachel Harris is ex-investment banker 27


Your bumper photo special 33


DESTINATIONS winter sun


South Africa: In Cape Town and beyond, discover the region’s art, history, wine and myriad activities


18 66


Watersports Resorts: Five of the best 72 greece & cyprus


Corfu: Fresh from a five-star makeover, the Kerkyra Blue Hotel N’ Spa has reopened with a stylish new look 74


What’s New: Hotels, attractions, trends 78


BUSINESS NEWS Etoa slams Paris for bednight tax hike 86 Eurocontrol air traffic data 2023: ›Figures show extent of flight recovery 87 New scanners ‘to miss June deadline’ 88


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 25 JANUARY 2024 3


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OHad great meetings with Sam from Travelzoo and Sally and Maria from Accord Marketing about the companies’ plans for this year.


OCaught up with Lee and Andrea from Ikos & Sani, and then with Peter, Connie and Donatella from Silversea, fresh from their Globes wins.


OFlew to Miami to attend the naming ceremony of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas with UK agents. It’s some ship!


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