Wiltshire agency heads online to mark 35 years


Juliet Dennis


O British Airways will be able to transport more PPE equipment and ventilators for the NHS among its cargo with the expansion of its weekly flight schedule from China from 13 to 21 from May 14.


O Frontline workers in the fight against coronavirus will be offered 25% discounts in a ‘Holidays for Heroes’ campaign started by Hotelbeds. Bookings can be made from mid-May to October 31 for arrivals until the end of the year. All rates will be fully refundable.


Robin’s World Travel is determined not to let the national lockdown stop it from celebrating 35 years in the business. The one-branch travel agency in


Marlborough, Wiltshire, had already begun planning how to mark its anniversary and will still run events – but virtually rather than at its high street premises. Manager Hannah Porter said it


was a case of adapting to the new environment. “We just need to make the best of the scenario,” she said. “I had compiled a ‘game plan’ to celebrate with our customers and our operators. We wanted special offers, competitions, smiles, laughter, photographs – everything an anniversary should include. “We had planned a social event at


O More than 100 agents helped Wendy Wu Tours raise £2,294 for the Association of NHS Charities through the 2.6 Challenge, set up in place of this year’s London Marathon. The operator’s staff – including John Warr (pictured) – and agent partners took part in activities including cycling, running, karaoke, skipping, sit-ups and even wheelbarrow runs.


O Abercrombie & Kent’s charitable arm has set up an emergency relief fund to deliver school lunches and procure medical supplies for vulnerable people around the world during the current crisis.


the agency, or we might have hosted an event at the local bookshop or even a bigger do at the town hall.” Hopes of getting supplier prizes


for a competition seem unlikely due to the crisis so Porter instead now


Royal Caribbean reveals RCL Cares hub for agents


Royal Caribbean Cruises brands have set up an online hub to support UK and Irish agents during the Covid-19 pandemic. The RCL Cares initiative by


Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Azamara and Silversea Cruises features links to UK government and Abta advice


travelweekly.co.uk


for businesses, trade FAQs, contact details for sales support teams and wellbeing support for families. It follows a similar scheme in the US. The latest corporate messaging


from Royal Caribbean Cruises and details of the RCL Cruise with Confidence policy will also be made available and the hub will be updated as the economic and


Robin’s World


Travel manager Hannah Porter


hopes to host a virtual celebration on May 15 with customers. She also plans to invite children to send in travel-related drawings on specially created templates, and to ask clients to share their favourite holiday snaps. She said: “Prizes might have to


wait but even with the lockdown we are going to have a group gathering on Zoom or a Facebook event so customers can raise a glass at home. “I’d still expect quite a few clients


to get involved via social media; 35 years is quite an achievement.” Porter also hopes to collect


testimonials from clients to create a ‘Robin’s lockdown keepsake album’. “When this is all over we can have


a party and thank them face to face,” added Porter, who said some new bookings were now coming in. “We’re trying to be positive and


not let this defeat us,” she said. “There is a light at the end of the tunnel.”


political landscape changes. Ben Bouldin, Royal’s vice-


president for the EMEA region, explained the project in a Travel Weeklywebcast last week. “We can’t emphasise enough


how integral our trade partners are to our business and how valued they are to us,” he said. “Whether that’s by sharing our


latest branded content, updated policies or even supporting with wellbeing activities for the family, we hope RCL Cares will help ease the pressure during this difficult time.”


30 APRIL 2020 9


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