Let’s hope for positive outcomes A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


This week feels like the first time we’ve drawn breath in our newsroom since the collapse of Thomas Cook. Interestingly, our most-read story online of the year to date is not


the failure of the country’s oldest travel business, but the revelation that Cook was taking full customer payments well in advance of departure and not passing them on to third parties. A leading industry accountant warned operators were waking up


to a “nasty shock” as the true cost to their businesses was much higher than anticipated. He also warned of company failures. Thankfully, that has not come to pass...yet. The total number of Atol-


holders has barely changed (page 4). The number of firms not renewing their licence more than halved, down by 66. However, the number of


Atols granted rose by 110, suggesting new players coming into the market. The legal advisor to the Association of Atol Companies noted this week that some clients face “substantial losses” and warned that company failures are more likely ahead of the next round of renewals in April (page 5). Whenever there is a major failure, there is pressure for reform to avoid repeating mistakes and


this already seems to be happening. A committee is being set up to review financial protection for operators selling through agents. And Advantage has reported overwhelming support for an advisory group to decide how operators can access customer data in an emergency (page 10). Let’s hope these initiatives bring positive outcomes for everyone in the trade.


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


●Invited guests to a very special, exclusive Travel Weekly Executive Dinner with ‘Heroes of the High Street’ John & Irene Hays


●Bought a load of kit, had my typhoid and hepatitis A jabs, and picked up my anti-malaria pills, ahead of climbing Kilimanjaro next month


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


NEWS Virgin plans to make Manchester a hub 4 Tui and Jet2 tipped to increase Atols 4 ‘Wholesale review’ of balance payments 5 Sharm campaign call; Fontenla-Novoa 6 Clia online guide; viewdata appeal


8


FRONT COVER Caroline Young, Premier


Travel; Andy Harmer, Clia; Kirsty van Wyk, Travel-PA; Jack Gore, Trailfinders; and Gurlie Lonsdale,


InteleTravel, at Grima Hall, Valletta, Malta Photo credit: Natasha Colyer


page 8


Win £250k ad campaign with Hearst 10 Conference reports Future of Travel Selling


Women in Travel Executive Lunch


12 14


special report Virgin to host agents on Scarlet Lady 16 Comment


Noel Josephides: Capacity cut positive 18


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product Elegant Resorts, Tui, Sesame Place


●Took my kids to the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum in half-term


FRONTLINE Get Social Cook, Fontenla-Novoa, margins


31


agent diary David Walker: My ‘best place’ varies 33 Spotlight Ibiza Rocks thrives as youth market shifts 37 your stories Amy Shepherd: Personal Travel Agents 40 Mystery Shopper A Jordan enquiry in Bromley, Kent


42


DESTINATIONS WTM 2019 Preview On the Stands: Your guide to show’s best sights, sounds and flavours


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operator Travel 2, Exodus, Wildfoot, Jet2, HF 22 Cruise Royal, A-Rosa, Regent, Celebrity hotel


Olympic, SLH, Mandarin, Adagio FOLLOW US: -@travelweekly travelweekly.co.uk


26 26


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BUSINESS NEWS Future of Travel Selling in pictures


Comment: Jeremy Sampson on the ‘invisible burden’ of tourism


B737 Max won’t fly till next year travelweeklyuk ,


68 70


72 @travelweeklyuk 31 OCTOBER 2019 3


44


Q&A with WTM director Simon Press 58 Sessions: Pick your seminars, spanning digital, tours, wellness, food and drink 60

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