Conference mood music remains upbeat A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
The mood at the Jet2holidays and Travel Counsellors conferences this week was buoyant, with delegates recognising ongoing headwinds but also feeling positive about continued demand. This confidence was reflected brilliantly at the Jet2 event by Barrhead
Travel’s Caroline Donaldson who, when asked about threats to traditional agents, responded that traditional agents should now be seen as threats to OTAs who can’t deliver the same personal service. And with Jet2holidays reporting a significant rise in average booking values via the trade, it seems its agent partnerships are going great guns. Prior to the pandemic, Jet2 had largely bucked the trend within the big
players with its trade-friendly approach. But with easyJet holidays putting agents at the heart of the growth
confirmed in its annual results and Tui also reporting a positive response to its recent re-engagement as it unveiled its Christmas advert this week, there is certainly no shortage of partners for agents to choose from (page 5). This is obviously good news for independents, with operators all vying for their business. And with increased capacity coming on stream next year and each of the big players offering regional flight options, there should be plenty of love to go around. Of course, the big three are only one part of the travel ecosystem, and we also heard this week
from the specialist operators at Aito’s conference (page 12). Perhaps unsurprisingly, the mood among smaller players was slightly more cautious, with
overcapacity a particular concern, but there was also plenty of optimism on show. Caution continues to be the watchword, but confidence ahead of the peaks still feels justified.
C Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group CONTENTS
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FRONT COVER AND THIS PAGE: Simon Wright Photography; Virgin Atlantic; Jake Wilton; Steve Dunlop; Shutterstock/Denis Belitsky
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Kim Kent: Helping older clients to travel 34 Your Stories Pamela Thornton runs four shops and trades cocoa 40
FOLLOW US: @travelweekly
10 12
14 close-up
From Burnley via York to the Maldives 41 competitions Win trips to Greece, Hong Kong, NZ 44
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Carbon Labels: Guide to eco ratings 55 Vegan Resorts: Options worldwide 60 New Zealand: Kapiti Island’s reserve 64 indian ocean
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Marine Conservation: Projects that allow clients to help protect sea life 68 72
WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK
OHosted 40 senior travel executives for an evening with Hays Travel owner and chair Dame Irene Hays at Deloitte’s fine-dining room.
OCelebrated Torey Kings-Hodkin’s 50th birthday with some of the industry’s finest in Soho.
ODressed as a cowgirl for the Wild West- themed opening night party of the Jet2holidays VIP agent conference in Turkey. Yee-haw!
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