Negative headlines are cause for concern A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


Last week I interviewed a panel of experts at the Atas Summit who talked about a sense of “temporary paralysis” around travel marketing plans. The speakers cited uncertainty prompted by the Trump administration’s


trade policies and other global events, and this week’s escalation in the Middle East will have added to the hesitancy (page 5). However, there was a silver lining in the conversation with a feeling that consumer intent to travel remains strong. As US Travel chief executive Geoff Freeman says in this week’s edition,


travel can often become “collateral damage” amid global events and rhetoric (back page). He insisted there is a desire from the White House to encourage legitimate visitors, but he admitted America could be


perceived as unwelcoming due to messaging on immigration. With the peak summer season almost upon us, it appears there will also be destinations in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East that will face challenges of a different kind to reassure potential travellers despite continuing to offer outstanding product and service. Of course, the trade is no stranger to demonstrating resilience and agents are used to having to allay customers’ concerns in relation to national media stories about “travel chaos”. But with the mainstream sector focused on shifting remaining summer capacity and maintaining


margins in a price-conscious market, the industry will be keen to avoid a period of negative headlines. As Travel Weekly went to press on Tuesday, the situation remained fast-moving and fluid, so it is to be hoped a resolution can be swiftly found and a sense of stability restored.


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


Agent panellists take to the stage as The Travel Network Group hosts 425 delegates at annual conference in Bucharest page 10


Photo: Alex Maguire


FRONTLINE AAAS 2025 PREVIEW


Gary Anslow, Norwegian Cruise Line 22 in the picture


Skydivers raise £24,000 for Reuben’s 24 Agent diary


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Shutterstock/Naeblys, Simon Dannhauer; Black Knights Skydiving Centre; Mare Resorts; Alsace Tourism/Bartosch Salmanski; Steve Dunlop


travelweekly.co.uk FOLLOW US:


Colin Burns: News headlines unhelpful 26 @travelweekly


New York cuts UK visitor forecast by 15% 4 Hays takes stake in Ocean Holidays 4 Middle East unrest sparks travel changes 5 Intrepid eyes UK growth; Carnival Q2 6 Atas website ‘will create a community’ 8 Conference Report TTNG Conference, Bucharest comment


10 Jacqueline Dobson: People power travel 12 NEWS YOU CAN USE


AAT Kings, easyJet, Loganair, Inclu 15 Newmarket Holidays, Shearings


16 Azamara, Viking, Viva, Riviera, Cunard 18


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OModerated several sessions at the Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers’ annual summit in London.


OPresented 30 awards to the trade’s favourite cruise lines and touring and adventure suppliers at Travel Weekly’s Hotlist event, in association with Clia, Atas and Virgin Atlantic.


OHelped my daughter and three of her friends get ready for their Year 11 prom!


Your Stories Panache apprentice Charlie Cole


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competitions Win trips to Arctic, Malta, Barbados 31


DESTINATIONS Greece & Cyprus Ayia Napa/Paphos: Two new Mare Resorts hotels provide stylish bases for holidays in Cyprus


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Island Capitals: Six of the best towns 39 Mainland Alternatives: Three top picks 42 Villa Holidays: Simpson Travel’s tips 44 sustainable travel


France: Discover France’s oldest wine route on a tour of the Alsace region and pretty towns such as Barr 47


BUSINESS NEWS


Airports debt; Macquarie buys stakes 54 Comment: Andrea Caulfield-Smith


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IPW 2025, Chicago: ›US Travel chief: We need to flip script 56


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 26 JUNE 2025 3


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