The industry remains largely on pause A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR


The trade was still awaiting operational details of tighter border restrictions as Travel Weekly went to press (page 5), but news of significant progress in the rollout of vaccines offered renewed hope for the summer (back page). Despite this glimmer of positivity, buoyed by anecdotal evidence of significant pent-up demand, the industry remains largely on pause, with increasingly blunt government messaging around current travel curbs serving also to suppress forward bookings. This sense of stasis is apparent throughout every sector, and all are hoping that the promised government update later this month at least offers some momentum to allow the brakes to be released (page 5). Travel Weekly is among the many service providers to feel the impact


of the industry’s hiatus, leading us to the sad but unavoidable decision to take a second temporary pause in the delivery of the print edition of your only weekly trade magazine until production becomes viable again. We will continue to publish every week, as we have throughout the pandemic, so please ensure you are signed up to receive your digital edition to stay connected, informed and inspired until we return in print at the earliest opportunity. And we will also continue to produce our unrivalled online news, analysis, opinion and advice, alongside virtual events such as our Future of Travel Spring Forum (page 8), which will take place in March and is free to attend as we work with you and for you on the road to recovery.


Lucy Huxley, editor-in-chief, Travel Weekly Group Sign up to receive alerts to view your weekly digital edition: go.travelweekly.co.uk/subscribe CONTENTS NEWS


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T ravel Weekly’s


Calls intensify for travel industry support 4 Sector’s closure ‘bolsters case for aid’ 4 Travel clampdown ‘puts restart on hold’ 5 Vaccination status split; ski sales focus 6 Low deposits ‘waste time’; market latest 7 Future of Travel Forum; BCH/Shearings 8 Special report Agents’ struggles to get financial help 10 Comment


Steve Dunne: Beware choice of words 12


NEWS YOU CAN USE Product


Contiki, Scenic, Jet2, Olympic, Sandals 15 Exodus, Al Fresco, Adventure Tours UK 16 Fred Olsen, Hurtigruten, Viking, Titan 17


INTERNATIONAL TRADE 2020


THE QUEEN’S AWARDS FOR ENTERPRISE:


FRONTLINE agent diary Kim Kent: Planning for hoped-for rush 18 Your Stories Chris Wouldhave, CT4N Travel, Nottingham


FOLLOW US: -@travelweekly travelweekly.co.uk


DESTINATIONS The US


California: Goat yoga, old- style rollercoasters, surfers and craft beer – discover the ‘alternative’ cities of Santa Cruz and Oakland


WHAT LUCY DID THIS WEEK


●Hosted a webinar to discuss the 2021 ski season and beyond with tour operator Inghams, specialist agent Iglu.com and Switzerland Tourism.


●Recorded a chat with G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip on his views on the current market and the prospects for travel.


●Organised a Zoom cook-along for my daughter and her friends so they could all make gooey triple chocolate brownies together.


Get Social New alliance, UAE flights ban, vaccine 21


22


Washington: Drink in Walla Walla 26 Weddings & Honeymoons Wow Factor: Arrive by helicopter, wake up next to an elephant, dine on a sandbank – six experiences to delight newlyweds 28


Anniversary: Marie Marshall, Hays 32 19 /


BUSINESS NEWS Travlaw Big Tent Event 2021 Tanzer: Futile to oppose border closures 34 Charles tips blanket travel quarantine 34 ‘Airlines still owe refunds from March’ 35 O’Leary predicts summer recovery 36


travelweeklyuk , @travelweeklyuk 4 FEBRUARY 2021 3

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