EES is an additional headache for Easter A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
The extent of the uncertainty currently facing the trade was summed up in the space of a few hours on Monday, when an unexpected and subsequently disputed social media post from President Trump raised hopes of progress in the Middle East and prompted a rally from financial markets. The volatility of the situation – and of its main protagonists – means it is impossible to predict what will happen in the next few hours, let alone days and months, and that is a far-from-ideal scenario for an industry attempting to sell multiple future seasons as well as imminent travel periods. As we report this week, expert analysts fear the current issues facing
the trade around rebooking, availability and pricing will continue well beyond the Easter break (page 5). Yet as we have noted since the start
of the conflict, there remain grounds for optimism for those not entirely reliant on travel to the Gulf region in the shape of robust underlying consumer demand. Many in the industry will be approaching the Easter holidays with a degree of trepidation, not only due to the ongoing uncertainty created by the Iran war, but also as it marks the first major travel period since the introduction of the EU’s Entry/Exit System (page 4). With issues at the US border also a concern, the trade will be desperate to avoid any coverage that could negatively impact desire to travel this year. The option remains for individual states to temporarily suspend the EES if queues get out of hand. Let’s hope that option is taken swiftly if needed.
WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK
ORecorded webcasts with Lee Haslett of Celestyal, Bill Fletcher of Holland America Line and Louise Craddock and Paul Beale of Oceania Cruises.
OJoined the Hotelplan ski trip to Chamonix with key agent partners for a couple of days in the snow.
Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS
Western Med availability ‘still good’ 4 Call to suspend EES if delays too long 4 Demand still strong but confidence dips 5 New V and T-levels; Fred Olsen target 6 Agent’s stem cell plea; NCL commission 8 Special Reports
COVER star
Hays Travel personal travel consultant Libby Rodde
poses at the five-star Savoy Palace hotel on Cover Stars trip to Madeira page 24
Photo: Thomas Reader
Protected Trust Services Conference 10 Uniworld launches Emilie in Amsterdam 12 comment
Steve Dunne: Don’t let clients walk away 14
NEWS YOU CAN USE British Airways, Emerald, Riviera
17
Anzcro brochure; Tui adds Bratislava 18 AmaWaterways, Seabourn, Marella 20 Ritz-Carlton, MSC, Princess, Celebrity 22
FRONTLINE agent diary Jennifer Lynch: Parts of our industry ought to work more collaboratively in a crisis 26
FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Sandals; Alice Barnes-Brown; Shutterstock/Naeblys; Steve Dunlop
travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US: @travelweekly close-up
Pata, Tui, Jet2holidays, Virgin Voyages 27 competitions Win a Cadiz trip and Antarctic cruise 28
DESTINATIONS caribbean
St Vincent and the Grenadines: Two years after a devastating storm, these beautiful islands are back and better than ever
asia Japan: Is teamLab’s latest interactive art museum in Kyoto worth a visit?
OAttended the end-of- season hockey club social where Marijke and I got a mention for being ‘the most prolific and iconic mother-daughter duo’ – we’re the only one!
30 36
indian ocean Maldives: Paradisiacal destination cultivates its appeal beyond the beach 38
BUSINESS NEWS
AI and tribunal claims; retail job losses 46 Tourism Insights 2026:
travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 26 MARCH 2026 3
›Demand for UK holidays ‘softens’ 47 Analysis: Aviation faces fuel shortage 48
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