BUSINESS NEWS Travel Convention 2025 preview: Abta chief on host destination and speakers. By Ian Taylor


PR podcast host Simon Lewis to offer crisis tips


Convention attendees can look forward to an object lesson in communications in a crisis with


Simon Lewis, who hosts the When it Hits the Fan podcast with former Sun newspaper editor David Yelland. Lewis previously worked as


Buckingham Palace press secretary and at Number 10 for then prime minister Gordon Brown. Tanzer said: “Simon’s podcast is


about crisis communications and media handling in political and corporate situations.” He noted: “So much of the news


now comes through the prism of corporate communications and


whether things are handled badly or well – the BBC is a classic example. “How do you deal with


cyberattacks, for example? “The session won’t just look


at the travel industry, but offer a broader view of different industries and different situations.”


Simon Lewis (right) and podcast co-host David Yelland


Political scientist to offer insights into UK’s evolving EU relationship


The Travel Convention will offer a political scientist’s view on the opportunities and obstacles to the UK rebuilding relations with the EU under Labour. Abta chief Mark


Tanzer noted: “We may not be in the EU, but we’re still in Europe and Europe is changing.” He suggested:


and even a pro-Russian approach. “The cozy club that was the EU


is kind of under review. In Britain, we’ve taken an Anglo-centric view of Europe, so it will be interesting to see what changes happen politically.” Political scientist


Anand Menon


“Something missed right through the period from the Brexit referendum of 2016 to today is the fact that the EU itself needs to change and is changing. You can see the tensions around Hungary and other states taking a more unilateral


Anand Menon, Professor of European politics and foreign


affairs at King’s College, London, and director of The UK in a Changing Europe group, is due to address the forum on the first full day. Tanzer said: “He’ll set the macro-


economic scene and the political dimension in which we operate.”


Tanzer hails UK-Spain ‘love affair’


The Travel Convention in Calvià in Majorca this October will mark not just Abta’s 75th anniversary but the travel “love affair” between Britain and Spain. Abta chief executive Mark


Tanzer hailed travel between the UK and Spain as “a great success story for all the reasons we know” but noted: “We talk about it in such a mechanical way, talking about ‘product’ and ‘distribution channels’ and ‘AI’. But when you travel around Spain you find people love that you have come to visit.” He suggested: “It’s built on more


than just economics. At the heart of the sector’s success is a kind of love affair between the UK and Spain.” Tanzer added: “Connectivity is


also part of the economic growth story. It’s not just about travel.” He noted the mayor of Barcelona


had explained that because half a million Americans visit the city to


travelweekly.co.uk It’s built on more


than economics – when you travel in Spain you find people love that you have come to visit


take a cruise, the 14 US-Barcelona air routes this supported enabled executives outside travel to fly in to do business, and said: “Without tourism, those wouldn’t exist.” Tanzer argued: “Majorca has


great connectivity from all parts of the UK and Calvià is an important destination for our members. It’s a bigger region than Magaluf with a lot of development going on. The convention is an opportunity for the mayor to explain his vision for the area and the steps being taken [to address] overtourism.” He insisted: “We want to ensure


the convention is as accessible as possible for people who maybe haven’t been for a while.” Tanzer added: “Everyone will stay


in one of two good-quality hotels next to each other on the seafront, with the venue in between and all the events within a short distance, so with easy access to everything.” He noted: “We’ll have good


representation from the Abta board – Jet2 chief executive Steve Heapy, easyJet holidays chief executive Garry Wilson and Tui UK and Ireland managing director Neil Swanson will discuss what has changed over their careers, what surprised them and what clues that might giver to what happens in future.” Yet he added: “We spend a lot


of time talking to ourselves. The convention is also an opportunity to get a broader perspective.” The Travel Convention 2025 will take place on October 6-8.


Mark Tanzer


i For full details about The Travel Convention, and to register, visit: abta.com/events/the-travel-convention


31 JULY 2025 63


PICTURES: BBC Sounds; Jack Latimer


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68