INSIDE THIS


WEEK Contents


NEWS Hot Stories


Debate continues over unbonded agents; Sharm el-Sheikh flight ban talks delayed; AAAs unveil new look and awards; Disabled agent calls for accessible facts; Abta: Avoid no-deal Brexit at all costs


Round-up Kuoni eyes new openings; Intrepid


WIN!


A Fitbit, Echo or vouchers in our Perfect Places survey page 37


Special Reports Cruise.co.uk plans TV and print adverts Travel Technology Europe 2019


Talk Back Unbonded agents, Flybe, Thomas Cook


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product G Adventures, Nat Geo, Virgin 25


Operator Super Break, Shearings Cruise Princess, Hapag-Lloyd, Scenic


FRONTLINE Comment Steve Dunne, Digital Drums


26 28


08 Silver Travel Awards, Tui gender pay gap 10


12 14


19 04 A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


’ve never made a secret of the fact the Agent Achievement Awards is one of my favourite nights of the year – in fact, check back through these pages in recent years and you’ll see I’ve said as much time and again. But there’s something particularly exciting about officially launching the most prestigious awards for travel agents when you know they’re going to be even bigger and better than ever before. Since we acquired the AAAs in 2013, we’ve made every


effort to ensure they are to the travel agent community what the Globe Travel Awards have always been to suppliers – the absolute pinnacle of success and a true recognition of excellence. You can find out more about the new categories at


our new-look event on page 19. We’re also busy planning improvements to the night itself, so it truly stands out as the awards for the travel trade. Just as the Globe Travel Awards rely on the support of our agent readers who cast thousands of votes to champion their favourite suppliers, we ask for that support to be reciprocated for the AAAs. In a time of uncertainty, it is more important than ever


to showcase what is great about our industry and the individuals, companies and partnerships that make it so special. If you’re an agent, please make sure you’re in the running for the self-nominated awards. And if you’re a supplier, please head to agentachievementawards.co.uk and show your support for the trade partners who do so much to showcase and sell your products.


32


Readers’ Lives Gillian Ashwood, Ayrshire 34 This Week In… A look through archives 34 Mystery Shopper Bath, Somerset


42 DESTINATIONS


Weddings & Honeymoons Hens & Stags: Top tips for all budgets 44 US Honeymoons: Cities, islands, mountains 51


WANTED: TOP AGENTS Find out how to enter and vote in Travel Weekly’s new-look Agent Achievement Awards 2019 page 19


Europe Verbier: Ski resort’s activities in summer 54 Corsica: A force to be reckoned with


63 BUSINESS


Business Travel Show London Olympia 71 Online platforms EC imposes new rules 72


WHAT


LUCY DID THIS WEEK


28 Feb 1


2 3


Lucy Huxley Editor-in-chief @Lucy_Huxley


Caught up with TourHound founder Laurence Hicks and discussed exciting plans for the Association of Touring & Adventure Suppliers.


Started planning my wardrobe for three days on MSC Bellissima – including moderating a Clia event and opening the ship’s kids’ club!


Took my children to brilliant attraction Prison Island, where you have to complete mental and physical challenges to escape prison cells.


28 February 2019travelweekly.co.uk3


Get set for revamped AAAs I


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