Robin Searle IPW, Chicago


NYC cuts UK visitor forecast by 15% 1.01m


in February and a slight decline on the 1.06 million who visited in 2024. The city’s tourist board said


New York City has downgraded its forecast for UK visitor numbers in 2025 by more than 180,000 following a report predicting a drop in international arrivals to the US this year. The significantly downgraded


projection, which was issued before the US launched strikes on Iranian nuclear sites at the weekend, came as US travel industry leaders insisted the country was still a welcoming destination despite “confusing rhetoric” from the Trump administration. New York now expects to attract


1.01 million UK arrivals this year – down from the 1.19 million forecast


it had made the adjustment following a report from research provider Tourism Economics, which predicted an 8.7% decline in international visitors in 2025. Elliott Ferguson, chief executive


of Destination DC, told the IPW conference in Chicago last week that he understood some consumers may choose not to visit due to “strong and confusing rhetoric” from the White House, adding: “As a destination we are challenged with negative headlines.” However, he added: “I can’t tell


you whether to travel or not, you have to follow your conscience. [But] as an industry we want you


Ocean Holidays targets growth as Hays takes stake


Andrew McQuarrie


Hays Travel has taken a 35% equity stake in Ocean Holidays in a move centred on the repayment of convertible loan notes totalling about £10 million including interest. The deal was struck as a result of


Ocean Holidays’ membership of the Hays Travel Independence Group, which it joined at the end of last year after more than two decades with the Travel Trust Association. Ocean Holidays co-founder and


co-chief executive Harry Hastings said: “We no longer have any external debt, which is good news because it


4 26 JUNE 2025


allows us to reinvest our profits into our number-one priority, which is the trade. That’s where we’re seeing our biggest opportunity for growth.” The US specialist operator


accepted £7.5 million in convertible loan notes in August 2023 from a “syndicate of high-net-worth and corporate partners” following a period of losses throughout the pandemic and during the delayed reopening of the US market. The 36-month financial


instrument would have been converted into equity in August next year, paid back or renegotiated. Hastings said: “The interest was


New York’s revised UK arrivals projection for 2025 – down from 1.19m


to feel welcome and, as a nation, overwhelmingly there is a sense that Americans welcome people.” US Travel chief executive Geoff


Freeman said there was a need to “flip the script”, adding: “In some parts of the world there is a growing perception that visiting the US might be difficult or even unwelcoming. That perception is costing us.” But he insisted both the president and vice-president “want people


to come to America” and said: “We want those leaders to say they want legitimate travellers.” Brand USA used the IPW


conference to unveil a new ‘America the Beautiful’ campaign, with plans to begin trade and consumer activity in key markets from August. The UK market to the US in


the calendar year to the end of May was up 2.7% year on year at 1.57 million, according to official records of flight arrivals from the country’s Department of Commerce (Travel Weekly, June 19). However, some specialists have


reported fluctuating bookings and concerns over affordability, with USAirtours director Guy Novik


estimating the market to be 5-8% down. i Geoff Freeman interview, back page


Harry Hastings


accruing at quite a high rate and it was better for the business and our trade clients to find a way to remove the convertible loan notes from the balance sheet as quickly as possible.” He added: “We looked at various


options to do that and Hays ended up being the most natural way, given our membership of Hays IG.” Hays Travel will not have an


operational role in the running of Ocean Holidays, Hastings said. The agency’s rights will be those


of a minority shareholder, while the other minority shareholder group – which supplied the convertible loan notes and £1 million in equity – has


had its stake reduced from about 4% to about 2.5%, Hastings added. Hays Travel chief operating officer


Jonathon Woodall-Johnston said: “Our investment will help Ocean Holidays stabilise and develop as a business. We are committed to helping businesses in our consortia grow and succeed.” Ocean Holidays, whose brands


are Ocean Florida, Ocean Beds and Winged Boots, had recorded strong booking figures in the past year, Hastings said. “We’re [now] trading better than


we’ve ever done and on a current trading basis we’re more profitable than ever,” he added.


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