Phil Davies and Ian Taylor


Consumer confidence ‘at record low’ 59%


Spending on leisure fell in nine of


Consumer confidence plunged to a record low in the third quarter of this year with consumers making cutbacks across almost all areas of leisure spending except holidays. However, travel could be the


sector hit most sharply by consumers reining in spending between now and the end of the year, according to the latest Deloitte Consumer Tracker. Deloitte reported consumer


sentiment dropped to its lowest since the tracker began in 2011 at minus 20% in the July-September quarter, twice as low as in the summer of 2021, and confidence in the UK economy plunged to minus 80%.


11 categories, with the sharpest fall in eating out. Yet Deloitte reported “sustained demand for holidays” with reported spending on travel remaining flat quarter on quarter although down on the same period in 2021 by eight percentage points for short breaks and three percentage points for longer holidays. Deloitte warned this could be


the holiday sector’s “last hurrah” as consumers “expect to spend less across all leisure categories” in the fourth quarter and noted: “The biggest declines [are] expected in long and short holidays, each down 10 percentage points.” It forecast spending on longer holidays would be 12 percentage


AmaWaterways recruits Schmitt as head of sales


Harry Kemble


AmaWaterways has recruited former Tradewind Voyages head of sales Mark Schmitt to lead its sales team as it promised agents “outstanding service”. Schmitt joined the river line on


Monday as its head of sales having worked at Fred Olsen Travel since July, where he was project manager. Prior to his stint at the Suffolk-


based agency he was head of sales at Tradewind Voyages for more than two years before leaving in May. Schmitt will lead AmaWaterways’


UK and Ireland sales team, which currently includes regional business


6 27 OCTOBER 2022


development managers Rachel Simon and Katrina Latimer. The line is looking to hire a third


BDM to cover the southeast of England and the Channel Islands, expanding the team to four for the first time since 2019. AmaWaterways managing


director Jamie Loizou said Schmitt’s “experience, connections and passion” would ensure the line continued to offer agents “outstanding service” as “they look to grow their business for 2023 and beyond”. Loizou added: “The UK river


cruise market still has huge potential.” Schmitt said: “I am looking forward to getting started and


working with our dedicated travel partners to continue to grow river cruising, and the AmaWaterways brand, in the UK and Ireland.” Schmitt replaces former


AmaWaterways national sales manager Jon Knight, who joined Miles Morgan Travel’s branch in Bath as manager this month after leaving the river line in September. Miles Morgan Travel founder


Miles Morgan worked with Knight about 15 years ago at travel agency chain Bakers Dolphin, which started in the mid-1980s and was bought by First Choice in 1998.


Proportion of Brits with less money to spend at Christmas than last year


points down year on year and short breaks 15 points down. Deloitte also noted: “Despite


this Christmas likely to be free of Covid-19 restrictions for the first time in three years . . . more [consumers] expect to spend less on travel [by 14 percentage points].” Almost a third (30%) of consumers


reported spending less in the third quarter and 59% said they would have


less money to spend at Christmas. Deloitte hospitality and leisure


partner Simon Oaten said: “Many consumers are having to prioritise the essentials, directing spend away from discretionary categories.” Ian Stewart, Deloitte chief


economist, added: “High inflation has driven consumer sentiment sharply lower despite a red-hot labour market. “Now consumers are starting to


worry about the outlook for jobs. With inflation elevated, interest rates on the rise and the labour market starting to cool, the squeeze on spending is likely to intensify.” The latest Deloitte Consumer


Tracker was based on a survey of 3,226 adults on September 17-18.


Mark Schmitt, inset, leads AmaWaterways’ UK and Ireland sales team Explaining the decision to recruit


Knight, Morgan said: “Quality managers make a big difference, so we are really excited about having Jon in the role at Bath because we know what he is capable of.” An AmaWaterways spokesperson


said: “We’re very grateful to Jon for a fantastic five years in which he has contributed significantly to our success in the UK, increasing the number of agents we work with and


growing our visibility with the trade.” OClia UK & Ireland has announced its 2023 RiverView Conference will take place in Vienna on March 12-14.


travelweekly.co.uk


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