Eliana Willis

National tourism agency VisitBritain has announced deputy chief executive Patricia Yates is stepping up to the top job.
The interim appointment comes as current chief executive, Sally Balcombe, steps down from April 8th.
The appointment was announced as VisitBritain brought tourism industry leaders together at a ‘Rebooting the visitor economy’ event on Tuesday.
British Tourist Authority (BTA) chair, Judith Macgregor, said: “On behalf of the BTA board and VisitBritain, I am very pleased to announce that Patricia Yates has agreed to step up to chief executive in the interim, ensuring a smooth transition for the organisation as well as for the industry.”
Latest forecasts suggest 21.1 million inbound visitors will arrive in the UK this year, just half of the 2019 level.
Overseas visitor spending will total £16.9 billion, 59 per cent of the 2019 figure.ADVERTISEMENTWith all travel restrictions for arrivals to the UK lifted and with its latest international research showing strong pent-up demand for travel, VisitBritain’s priority is driving the quickest return of inbound visitor spending, prioritising markets that will quickly drive back value including the USA and its major European markets.
Yates said: “I am honoured to be stepping up as chief executive, continuing our focus on building back visitor spend as quickly as possible and supporting the industry.
“We know there is pent-up demand for travel, Britain is a destination that people want to visit and in 2022 we have a year of landmark events.
“Our tourism businesses have innovated to survive through a myriad of restrictions and now is the time to drive the visitor recovery.”
The agency is currently out in international markets with a £10 million GREAT ‘Welcome to another side of Britain’ campaign.
As well as highlighting messages of welcome and reassurance, the campaign is promoting the major events this year, set to be global tourism draws, offering visitors once-in-a-lifetime experiences they can only have in the UK including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

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The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has unveiled the speakers for its upcoming Global Summit in Manila, with Indonesian/Dutch activist Melati Wijsen leading the line-up.
At just 12 years old, activist Wijsen founded Bye Bye Plastics, a global movement powered by youths around the world to end the use of plastic bags.
Taking place in Manila, Philippines from April 20-22, the summit is the most influential tourism event in the calendar.
Industry leaders will gather with more than 20 government representatives, to continue aligning efforts to support the recovery of the tourism sector and move beyond to a safer, more resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.
South Korean politician Ban Ki-Moon, who served as the eighth secretary general of the United Nations between 2007 and 2016, will also address delegates virtually at this prestigious event.ADVERTISEMENTAlso taking to the stage at the summit will be the tourism ministers from around the world including Spain, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Thailand, Japan, Maldives and Barbados.
Julia Simpson, WTTC chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have such influential speakers already confirmed for our Global Summit in Manila.
“Melati is an inspiration to us all.
“A real changemaker, who from such a young age, has been instrumental in raising awareness of the damage caused by plastic and has inspired young people around the world to lead change.
“After more than two years, the region is perfectly positioned to post the losses caused by the pandemic.”

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Cruise and escorted tour specialist, Riviera Travel, has promoted Jessica Payne to the role of business development executive.
She has worked in the contact centre for the past year, and before that spent five years overseas as a rep in Rhodes, Costa del Sol, Mallorca, Mexico, Thasos and Thailand.
Payne will manage a number of trade accounts across the UK, and will be looking to develop agents who want to start selling river cruise and touring holidays.
She will report to Tom Morgan, head of agency sales, UK & Ireland.
Riviera has made several trade-specific sales and business development appointments during the past two years, as the company continues to strengthen its relationships with its travel partners. ADVERTISEMENTA number of recently-created vacancies in sales, customer service and administration are currently open.
Payne said: “I’m delighted to take on this new role and responsibilities, as the opportunities for agents to sell river cruise and touring holidays are clear.
“I’m really looking forward to helping grow our business as travel further opens up, and continuing the great work the team have delivered to support the trade.”

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As the Covid-19 travel requirements come to an end today, new research from ABTA reveals how people are planning to capitalise on their new-found freedoms.
The findings show 57 per cent of people have a holiday abroad booked for the next 12 months, up from 44 per cent in October.
Spain, France, Italy, Greece and Turkey remain firm favourites for UK holidaymakers heading overseas but ABTA’s analysis of people’s travel intentions this year – compared to pre-pandemic, reveals other destinations are climbing up the popularity list.
When comparing people’s travel intentions from 2019 to this year, the number of people planning to travel to Egypt is up by 87 per cent, followed by Malta (up 51 per cent), the United Arab Emirates (up 31 per cent), Portugal (up 30 per cent) and Mexico (up 26 per cent).
All these destinations promise sunshine, sandy beaches and a multitude of things to see and do, while also welcoming UK holidaymakers with either proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative Covid-19 test – or no vaccination or testing requirements at all as is the case in Mexico.ADVERTISEMENTThe removal of Covid-19 travel measures in the UK today follows the steady relaxation of testing requirements since the start of the year, making the process of heading off abroad much easier and cheaper.
Now, passengers, whether vaccinated or not, will no longer need to take any tests on return to the UK or complete a Passenger Locator Form, so holidaymakers can enjoy every last moment of their long-awaited break.
Mark Tanzer, chief executive at ABTA, said: “It’s a landmark day for holidaymakers and the travel industry.
“From now on people can enjoy their holiday up to the last minute without having to think about any paperwork or tests on their return to the UK.
“While we’re not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, our research clearly shows that consumer confidence is returning, and things are looking up for the industry.”

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Vail Resorts has announced an incremental annual $157 million investment in its employees.
The company, which owns and operates 37 ski resorts across North America, said the cash would be used to improve wages, HR services, career development and benefits.
The employee investment is in addition to the $320 million capital investment announced earlier in the season which will result in 21 new lifts across 14 North American resorts.
The $157 million investment includes a new $20 per hour minimum wage across all 37 of Vail Resorts North American properties, plus raises for hourly employees to address compression.
The company said the figure represents an incremental annual investment of $175 million into team members next year. ADVERTISEMENTEffective immediately, the company is also investing $4 million to significantly improve HR operations, including adding 66 more team members to the HR services team.
Vail Resorts chief executive, Kirsten Lynch, commented: “Our employees’ passion is what makes our resorts so special and our guests’ experience memorable.
“In my first 100 days as chief executive, I have had the opportunity to reflect on what is important, and what our company must focus on as we move forward.
“Our top priority must be to support and invest in our employees – their wages, benefits, HR support, housing and career development.”
Vail Resorts also said its corporate office is moving to flexible remote work, which means team members can spend their days working from a location that works best for them in any of the states where we operate—including in the mountains.

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Travel businesses that are due to renew their ATOL this month and have not yet applied are being urged to submit their renewal application to avoid a delay to licence terms being offered.
Just over a third of the travel companies due for renewal are yet to apply to renew their ATOL.
Any travel companies concerned about their upcoming renewal should submit their application and supporting information “as soon as possible” so that the Civil Aviation Authority can discuss their terms of renewal and support them through the process.
In assessing an application, the body considers the financial resources and arrangements available to all travel companies, and therefore needs to closely assess those businesses applying that need to find additional support to continue to trade.
This can only be done if those ATOL holders discuss their position openly and in a timely manner.ADVERTISEMENTThe Civil Aviation Authority said it understands the challenges the industry faces, and will continue to work closely with the industry, however, the ATOL scheme exists to provide consumers’ protection and “so it must make sure that it has complete and accurate financial information before considering a renewal”.
Any renewal conditions placed on licences are reflective of the current licensing framework and the financial information provided.
The future changes discussed in the ATOL Reform consultation have no bearing on current licensing decisions.
Commenting, Michael Budge, head of ATOL at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “While the industry is on the road to recovery, we understand the challenges that travel companies continue to face and are working closely with them to support their licence renewals.
“Applications must be thoroughly assessed and where licence conditions are required, these must be met before the new licence can be granted.
“Businesses concerned about their renewal should submit their applications as soon as possible for us to work with them through any issues and avoid delays to their ability to sell package holidays.”

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