Fashion Forward raises £5k for Intrepid charity
Ella Sagar
Travel Weekly’s inaugural Inspiring Women Fashion Forward event has been hailed as a ‘runway success’ after more than £5,500 was raised for charity. The event, which was attended
by 200 guests, included a pre-loved clothing sale and silent catwalk auction featuring more than 350 items donated by female industry leaders. It also featured an address by
British Fashion Council director Karen Blackett CBE and Nishma Patel Robb, founder of Glittersphere and former senior director at Google. The showcase was hosted
by Hyatt at the Andaz London Liverpool Street and was held in association with headline sponsor Intrepid Travel, with proceeds from the sale and a raffle going to the operator’s Intrepid Foundation. Travel Weekly editor-in-chief Lucy
Huxley said: “Our Inspiring Women Fashion Forward event was created to support the circular economy, give young women in the industry an opportunity to build a work wardrobe at a reasonable cost and raise money for a fantastic charity. “The turnout tonight has been
phenomenal, and we are incredibly grateful to Karen and Nishma for
Natasha Chaplin (left) and Amy
Butcher, both Fred Olsen Travel, show off their purchases
Travel Foundation changes name in push for action
Industry charity The Travel Foundation has changed its name to Travel Forward as it seeks to drive “urgent action” in destinations dealing with the impacts of climate change and rising visitor numbers. Announcing the name change
this week, Travel Forward chief executive Jeremy Sampson insisted: “This isn’t a change in who we are. But for our industry to travel forward, we need to move beyond incremental change.” Sampson noted growing stress
giving up their time, to our volunteer salespeople and models, and of course to Intrepid Travel, Avis, Hyatt, Iberostar, Newmarket Holidays and Silversea for their support.” Zina Bencheikh, EMEA
managing director of Intrepid Travel, described the evening as “inspiring, innovative and fun”, and “a perfect match” for the operator’s values. She added it “wasn’t always easy”
for young people to find appropriate outfits for the variety of events on offer as they progress in the industry, with Fashion Forward offering a “great opportunity” for rising stars. Blackett and Patel Robb said
they hoped the event would serve
Hays gains go-ahead from CMA to proceed with acquisitions
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has cleared Hays Travel’s acquisitions of Polka Dot Travel and Millington Travel. Hays announced the takeover of 15 Polka Dot shops last October and 14 Millington Travel stores in November. The CMA intervened six weeks later to determine whether either or both acquisitions could lead to a “substantial lessening of competition”.
8 30 APRIL 2026
as “a blueprint” for other industries to follow suit. Seabourn UK and EMEA
vice-president Lynn Narraway added: “What a great way to spend an evening and raise money. I brought five young women with me and we all bought something.” Jenny Higgins, Travel Village
Group marketing manager, and one of the agency’s rising stars at the event, said: “It was so nice to see women lifting each other up, especially during the catwalk. “There was such positive energy in the room, and everyone had
a great time.” i Full report in next week’s issue
Virgin Atlantic appoints Uphill as new sales vice-president
Virgin Atlantic has appointed Anthony Uphill as sales vice-president. He joins the airline on May 5, taking on the role previously filled by Luke Goggin, who departed last October. Uphill will have responsibility for corporate and agency sales and will work closely with joint- venture partners Delta, Air France and KLM.
from climate impacts, record arrivals and unequal distribution of benefits. He said the charity’s focus had evolved to address the root causes of risks to tourism, but would continue to operate as a UK-registered charity, building on decades of “research, advocacy, partnerships and experience”. He urged industry partners to
join a new membership community, Travel Forward Connect, and to draw on Travel Forward’s training, insight and advisory support. The charity’s chair of trustees,
Megan Morikawa, said: “The name Travel Forward reflects our role in helping to support those ready to act to change tourism’s impact on destinations for the better.”
Jeremy Sampson
Brilliant Travel’s ‘much-loved’ Linda Pyle to end 45-year career
Brilliant Travel director Linda Pyle will retire at the end of June, bringing her 45-year career in travel to a close. Barrhead Travel described Pyle as a “much-loved figure across the industry”, known for “her supportive leadership, energy and unwavering commitment to the sector”. Business development manager Dan Steabler will be promoted to the role of director on July 1.
travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Steve Dunlop
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