Demand for future seasons brings hope A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


As an industry source noted this week, travel agents could be forgiven for thinking they are playing a metaphorical version of fairground game whack-a-mole at the moment, with a fresh challenge arising each time one is dealt with. Ongoing airport issues continue to cause problems, and while we must


remind customers that most holidays are running smoothly, it would be a mistake to suggest things are rosy when disruption is still impacting both immediate travel and consumer confidence (page 5). I was given a personal insight last weekend when a senior industry executive kept me abreast of his attempts to get away with his family – including being asked to leave his plane on the tarmac and return home before eventually flying 26 hours late for his seven-night holiday. And


it is clear from our social channels and agent groups that this is sadly still far from being unique. Yet despite the understandable concern about the summer getaway and various other ‘moles’


confronting the trade, there are still reasons for optimism looking further into the future. As we report this week, agents say a softening summer market is being partially offset by strong demand for future seasons (page 4). This will surprise many who assumed resurgent demand driven by ringfenced budgets and a determination to catch up on missed holidays would wane as rising living costs started to bite. Of course, an industry that has become used to responding to setbacks will know better than to count its chickens, but there is certainly hope momentum can be maintained beyond the initial post-pandemic rebound.


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS NEWS


Cost of living could boost package sales 4 Business is brisk despite dip in demand 4 Fears strikes will fuel ‘chaos’ narrative 5 Crystal Cruises talks; Farndell joins HAL 6 Tanzer on lobby group; Welsh agency 8 trade show


Harry’s hopes Ocean Holidays’ Harry


Hastings on raising funds for a children’s hospice that now helps care for son Rudy page 22


Experience Africa, Kia Oval, London 10 comment


Miles Morgan: Agents illustrate mettle 12


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product


Jet2, Newmarket, Riviera, Explore 15


Kuoni adds eight Indian Ocean resorts 16 NCL, Explora Journeys, Lindblad, Ponant18


FRONTLINE agent diary


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Shutterstock/Slawomir Kruz, Khvost, Sumroeng Chinnapan, TravnikovStudio; Silversea Cruises; Steve Dunlop


travelweekly.co.uk


Clare Dudley: We must show our value 20 Your Stories Harry Hastings on son’s rare genetic condition 22


FOLLOW US: @travelweekly close-up


Best pictures from the trade this week 24 competitions


Playa Hotels and Saint Lucia fams Get Social


DESTINATIONS Cruise


Spas: Rum, choccies and Mozart: Silver Dawn takes wellness at sea to new bacchanalian heights 28


Ask the Experts: Selling world cruises 34 Tried & Tested:Wonder of the Seas 36 Tried & Tested: Celebrity Beyond


39


Croatia & balkans Cycling: The best routes in the region including the new Amazon of Europe trail 41


BUSINESS NEWS Atol reform round-table:


travelweeklyuk 25 Abta subs, disruption, Not Just Travel 27


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


OHad a productive catch-up with Mail Metro Media’s Sam Conway, planning the events it will partner with us on for the rest of 2022 and 2023.


OHad a great night out celebrating Andy Harmer’s OBE and various birthdays with travel industry friends.


OManaged to drag my daughter to Parkrun ahead of us running a Pretty Muddy Kids race this weekend in aid of Cancer Research UK.


›Experts and CAA discuss key issues 46 Tui’s Joussen to step down in autumn 48


@travelweeklyuk 30 JUNE 2022 3


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