NEWS ROUND-UP


OTB eyes return to profit as monthly sales exceed 2019


On the Beach (OTB) expects to return to profit in the second half of the year after booking volumes recovered to exceed 2019 levels. In a trading announcement,


the firm reported monthly sales of £385.8 million compared with £365.4 million in the same period in 2019, although revenue and gross profit remained behind. For the six months to March 31,


OTB’s profit before tax was break- even compared with £15.7 million in 2019, ending a two-year period of losses during the pandemic. However, analysts at investment


bank Peel Hunt expect the firm to end the year with a £12 million profit before tax, still down on 2019’s £18 million. “OTB’s model allows it to be


the lowest-cost provider of package holidays,” Peel Hunt said. As restrictions eased following


Omicron, five-star holidays saw a rebound in the 10 weeks to March 31, up 150% on 2019, while three-star sales were down 10%. Chief executive Simon Cooper


said: “Our investments in brand and proposition will ensure profitable trading into the second half and have left us in a strong position to continue growing market share.”


NCL chief confident cruise shutdowns will not return


Harry Kemble


Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings boss Frank Del Rio is confident the sector would not face another shutdown in the event of a new Covid-19 variant. The chief executive of the parent


company of Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises said he believed the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had moved on from the decisions it took during the pandemic. Asked in an interview recorded


for the Clia Conference if there was a risk that similar punitive action could be taken in future, he said: “I think they [the CDC] recognise their mistakes. Of course, they’re governmental, they’ll never admit it. I think that we’re past that.” Del Rio has been a regular and


vocal critic of the CDC for “shutting down” the cruise sector during the pandemic. He told Travel Weekly editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley the health body had been “misguided” because of events that occurred on cruise vessels early in the pandemic. “[The CDC] took that to be


the norm and assumed all cruise ships suffer from the same fate,” he said, adding the CDC still had


We have proven


now for almost a year that cruising is as safe or safer than any other venue on Earth


protocols for the cruise industry that were “cruel” and “unusual”. He added: “Quite frankly, I think


the CDC has gone from being the premier public health administration in the world to being something else.” On the cruise sector’s current


relationship with the CDC, he said: “To this day, we have to go through


Wendy Wu Tours reports surge in Japan enquiries as rules to relax


OTB’s figures are looking up 8 26 MAY 2022


Asia specialist Wendy Wu Tours said it had seen a surge in Japan bookings following the announcement the country will ease Covid restrictions next month. The operator reported a 170% increase in enquiries in the past week, as Japan prepares to drop quarantine and airport testing rules for arrivals from countries in its “low-rate group”, which includes the UK, from June 1.


Frank Del Rio is interviewed by Lucy Huxley


hoops that no one else does. We think it’s discriminatory. “We have proven now for almost


a year that cruising is as safe or safer than any other venue on Earth.” Del Rio confirmed discussions


with the CDC were ongoing as the cruise sector resumed operations and predicted “more relaxations” of measures would be announced soon. He also said the body was now


taking its cue from other countries, such as the UK, which has “lifted every protocol”. “I think more countries will now follow the UK lead rather than the


US,” he added. “The US is a mess.” i Clia Conference, page 12


TSN appoints Cherie Richards as director of homeworking division


Travel fulfilment and homeworking specialist Travel Solutions Network (TSN) has completed its management line-up by appointing Cherie Richards as director of homeworking. She will be tasked with recruiting agents and homeworkers who are primarily focused on developing their own client base, and will report to managing director Ruth Endacott.


travelweekly.co.uk


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