Chance to honour trade’s amazing agents A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


The industry can at last begin to look forward, with a cautious restart to overseas travel now under way and set for expansion next month, and MPs acknowledging the case for government support for agents in a Westminster debate on Monday (page 6). As the outlook brightens, we’re delighted to turn to one of the


traditional pre-pandemic high points in the trade’s calendar, the Agent Achievement Awards, which have always held a special place for me. Throughout its history, Travel Weekly has put readers at the heart


of everything it does, and the AAAs offers the perfect opportunity to support, connect and inspire our industry by celebrating the excellence in evidence throughout the trade. It is abundantly clear that everyone continues to face immense


challenges and all are deserving of recognition. But, after consulting with frontline agents, owners and suppliers, we felt the time was right to bring back a streamlined version of our flagship agent awards after last year’s postponement to honour those that exemplify the best of our industry. Over the past 15 months, agents have had to contend with previously unimaginable pressures,


yet have responded with a professionalism that has typified AAA winners for a quarter of a century. The awards will take place in September and, after the success of January’s Globe Travel


Rewards, we have introduced a virtual element to ensure everyone can get involved on the night. We hope agents and suppliers alike will take this chance to nominate colleagues and partners for well-deserved recognition. You can read more on pages 7 and 10-13.


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


dedicated web pages to support you


go.travelweekly.co.uk/ webcasts


Webcasts


Restart & Recovery Hub travelweekly.co.uk/ restart-recovery


T ravel Weekly’s DfT-FCDO advice ‘difficult to align’ 4


EU reopenings ‘unlikely to harmonised’ 4 Consumer confusion ‘could hit recovery’ 5 Amber ‘anger’; MPs debate Abta petition 6 AAAs 2021 launched; cruise restart


Special Reports 7


MSC targets new-to-cruise opportunity 8 Enter Agent Achievement Awards 2021 10 comment


Steve Dunne: Treat your suppliers well 14


NEWS YOU CAN USE Classic Collection, JetBlue, dnata


17


Lusso, Wendy Wu Tours, Great Rail 19 Celestyal, Uniworld, Emerald, Riviera 20


FRONTLINE Your Stories


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


COVER PICTURE: MSC Cruises’ Antonio Paradiso with, from left: Phil Evans, Cruise Nation; Ryan Cunningham, Cruise118; Carl Newbigging, Cruise.co.uk; and Hannah Porter, Travel By Hannah, on board MSC Virtuosa


travelweekly.co.uk agent diary FOLLOW US:


Duncan Greenfield-Turk talks safaris, fees, Clubhouse 22


Carla Hutchings: I’m loving my new role 23 @travelweekly


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OHad three face-to- face meetings in London with senior travel industry contacts – my first in 14 months!


OInterviewed Issam Kazim, chief executive of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, about the steps the emirate has taken to welcome tourists safely.


OTook a Covid test and hugged my double-vaccinated mum for the first time since last March!


competitions


Win picnic baskets, holidays and more 24 Get Social Amber list,MSC Virtuosa, inbound pain 27


DESTINATIONS restarting travel


Portugal: Toboggan rides and mountain highs: Ben Ireland reports from Madeira as Tui restarts holidays 28


Gibraltar: Mix best of Britain and Spain 35


Iceland: Erupting volcano is hot draw 37 Family holidays


Warwick Castle: New Zog activity trail warrants a gold star for a day trip or stay 40


Multigenerational: Grandparents’ joy 44


BUSINESS NEWS Abta Travel Law Seminar ‘FCDO advice trumps traffic light lists’ 46 ‘Trade must assist stranded customers’ 47 Kolatsis: Obligation on agents to advise 47 CMA warns industry to honour refunds 48


travelweeklyuk @travelweeklyuk 27 MAY 2021 3


Green list


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