Agency hails boost from Team Wales Games deal
Ella Sagar
The co-owner of a Welsh agency that won the contract to organise travel for the country’s Commonwealth Games team says the deal has been “phenomenal for business”. Newport-based The Travel
Business secured an eight-year contract last year and kicked off the partnership for this year’s event, which is currently taking place in Glasgow and ends on Sunday. The agency organised “all aspects
of travel logistics” for around 238 athletes, with the number fluctuating frequently in the run-up due to injuries. It also worked with support staff, sponsors, media, family and friends travelling to the city. Co-owner Ellie Fowler said:
“It has been absolutely hectic over the past couple of weeks to get the last-minute bits done to make sure it’s seamless. You always have slight hiccups, but all the athletes have been as good as gold.” She added: “Touch wood, so
far everything has gone well. I have had so much positive feedback from the directors of Team Wales, so it’s onwards and upwards. “The publicity and exposure
has been huge for us, and I feel I’ve
Ellie Fowler waves off one of the Team Wales 2026 Commonwealth Games coaches
got my foot in the door now.” Fowler waved off the coaches of
athletes on July 21, with local TV crews also in attendance. She also arranged flights and transfers for some of the athletes. She said it was “so exciting” to
work on the contract, adding it had been “phenomenal for business”, especially in light of the impact on travel and consumer confidence of the conflict in the Middle East this year. She said organising travel for the
team had thrown up “things I would never have thought of”, such as
Future Travel Coalition outlines industry priorities to new PM
The Future Travel Coalition has written to new prime minister Andy Burnham to set out how government policy can support the industry. The coalition, which represents a large proportion of the outbound and inbound sectors, warned firms would be unable to absorb “rising taxes, high employment costs and increased regulatory burdens” without denting demand, investment and jobs.
8 30 JULY 2026
hiring extra conference rooms for use for physio sessions and requesting additional catering for the athletes. Fowler said: “We have had to put
in special requests for the amount of carbs the athletes have to eat. I’ve never seen that kind of request for a hotel before – one lot of pasta is not going to cut it!” The next event in the partnership
is the Commonwealth Youth Games in Malta next year, and Fowler also hopes to tap into the relationship to work on both training camp travel and personal travel for team members.
Not Just Travel develops AI platform for homeworkers
Not Just Travel is expanding its use of AI to create an “all-in-one” platform for its network of more than 800 homeworkers. NJT OS is being developed to remove the need for consultants to juggle multiple systems for bookings, client portfolios, HR, marketing and communications. It is due to be rolled out to agents later this year.
Royal brings back Fortune Awaits fam to China and Japan
UK agents are being offered a second chance to visit China and Japan with Royal Caribbean International in a new edition of the line’s hugely successful Fortune Awaits competition. Royal has once again partnered
with Travel Weekly for ‘Fortune Awaits 2.0’, with 10 winners set to head east on October 16 for a seven-night experience. Ben Bouldin, the line’s China
president and Asia managing director, said the competition was returning due to the success of last year’s incentive and the chance to educate more agents about cruising in the region. The prize includes return flights
to Shanghai from Heathrow, time to explore the city, VIP tickets to the final of the Rolex Shanghai Masters tennis tournament and a cruise on Spectrum of the Seas to Okinawa. To enter, agents need to
iCompetitions, page 43
complete a training course on Online Travel Training about Royal Caribbean’s offering in China and Japan and take a creative photo with the Chinese fan on the cover wrap of today’s issue of Travel Weekly.
Spectrum of the Seas
Carnival UK pledges restructure won’t change support for trade
Carnival UK has insisted agents will “continue to receive the same support” despite its company-wide restructure plan. Several agents expressed worries that new teams working across P&O Cruises and Cunard could result in cuts to trade support. However, the company insisted separate teams would “retain relationships, individuality and distinction for the brands”.
travelweekly.co.uk
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