5 2


Sharm flight ban talks postponed


Ben Ireland ben.ireland@travelweekly.co.uk


heresa a fe to harm eheih for the ra eae smmit t ritish torists ot e mai the same ore atime soo


The prime minister was set to


meet Egyptian president Abdel el-Sisi at the resort earlier this week to iscuss n onoin fit n ut Downing Street said talks were put on ice for “logistical reasons”. Brexit dominated the summit as


the PM was accused by EU leaders of “sleepwalking” towards no deal as she faced cabinet resignation threats at home. Red Sea Holidays executive


director Peter Kearns wrote to May to urge her to launch an ieite reie o te fit n in pce since  o on board a Russian-operated Metrojet exploded in November 2015 killing all 224 passengers and crew. Egyptian authorities have long


insisted the airport is safe and say independent British inspectors have carried out assessments since the terror attack. Other European countries have resumed


fits incuin ern ic returned in 2016. erns si s r s ’ re


the safety concerns have been addressed.” e si te opertor’s ur


sales were up 50% year on year and put demand for Egypt down to the weak pound against the euro. “Sharm will come back superuick e e. ptin tte ourist fice


irector r i si  te prie inster is fin tere ou cn euce it’s se or tourists. our  tepen is co-chairman of the All-Party rientr roup on pt to te ress ssocition t’s i tie to it te  fit n. Thomas Cook said it would “look


orr to fin custoers to r i te orein fice ree its travel advice. Downing Street si e continue to keep fits to Sharm] under review.” enie ies eere st


week of a concrete barrier being built around Sharm. The governor o out ini ener e ou enie it s   ut told The Guardian e proect will help Sharm el-Sheikh recoup lost tourism revenues.”


AAAs reveal new look and awards


Robin Searle robin.searle@travelweekly.co.uk


ecies seciaisi i tori a aetre hoias those shocasi their siesses throh iita a socia chaes a the est aretice aets i the  a rea are to e hoore at a eoo rae ee et chieemet ars i 


New awards have been


introduced to showcase growth res in te tre tre s e as new regional categories to celebrate agency hotbeds in the epuic o ren n te st Midlands and East Anglia. e fin ne ccoe te ne


to tc r i e presente to an agency that has operated as a standalone business for up to two years. The revamped category list is


UK flights to Sharm el-Sheikh were suspended in 2015


introduced as the AAAs celebrates its t er it  ne ook refectin te rs’ erite n a bright future for travel agents. uc ue eitorincie o


re eek roup si e are incredibly excited to unveil a


“The AAAs have always been the ultimate benchmark of excellence in the travel trade”


new look and new awards for this er’s ent cieeent rs. “The AAAs have always been the ultimate benchmark of eceence in te tre tre n we are looking forward to another spectacular event on July 11.” turt ris  nin


director of Travel Weekly parent copn cos ei roup e s urope’s rest  media business for the travel and ospitit inustries e re increi prou o our istor ut are also committed to innovation and excellence in everything we do. “As Travel Weekly celebrates its 50th birthday and its 10th year as n inepenent copn tere is no better time to revamp one o our fsip eents to ensure we continue to place our readers


fir t te ert o our usiness. › Agent Achievement Awards 2019, page 19


28 February 2019travelweekly.co.uk5 3


Some of the winners at last year’s AAAs


STORIES HOT


PICTURE: ISTOCK


PICTURE: STEVE DUNLOP


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