Eliana Willis

AITO has launched a highly critical attack on the UK government over what it claims are persistent failings to help the travel sector in the country.
The trade body decried the lack of support or comprehension for the huge problems faced by 500,000 travel industry employees.
AITO chairman, Chris Rowles, said these issues had the potential to hit to the economic recovery if they were not addressed. ADVERTISEMENTHe said: “Many families’ livelihoods are on the verge of being destroyed. 
“AITO members, and many others in travel, are long-established small- and medium-sized businesses – which have delivered hugely over many years in terms of employment, superb customer service and significant tax take – yet which are now at severe risk of being dumped on the scrap heap of failed companies because the government has denied travel the right to trade for the second successive – and vital – peak summer holiday season.”
The association is a 45-year-long alliance of some 200 specialist tour operators and travel agents in the UK.
It argues three key problems exist:

The mental strain involved of existing on zero income for 17 months without proper financial support that works for this particular sector is immense; it has been, wrongly, completely ignored by government to date.
Unlike hairdressers, who have had up to £18,000 in government aid to kick-start their businesses, and who start to earn immediately they are permitted to trade, travel businesses do not earn anything until their customers depart on holiday, which could be a year or more later. Yet travel businesses have been awarded a paltry £2,500 in government aid – up to £15,500 less than the hairdresser next door which is overrun by customers delivering them an immediate cash flow boost, totally unlike the situation with travel companies, which are prevented from trading by government.
Travel customers’ confidence to book has been destroyed by stealth as countries are moved from the green, amber and red lists each week.

“Added together, it all makes for a pretty big kick in the teeth for the entire travel sector,” stated Rowles.
He continues:  “The global travel taskforce review gives government a key opportunity to redress these key issues and, finally, to support the safe return of international travel. 
“Now is the last opportunity to save our travel companies from collapse, and to protect other linked sectors such as inbound travel and the retail industry, alongside the huge tax take delivered by outbound travel. 
“We will repay such support in bucket loads over decades to come – we are worth saving!”
AITO called for more updates to the travel lists, cheaper testing and mutual recognition of vaccination certification as ways the government could help the sector.

Older
Le Fez ready to welcome partygoers back in London

Newer
Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau welcomes first guests More

UKinbound has confirmed the appointment of Morganne Abou-Haydar as events manager.
A seasoned events professional, Abou-Haydar brings with her a passion for planning, creativity and communications, having spent over three years as events manager at Wedgewood DMC Group in both London and Paris.
More recently, she worked for Actineo Consulting as events producer on the Lean Agile Global 2021 virtual conference, coordinating international speakers and assisting with all aspects of the two-day event.
Abou-Haydar will be responsible for managing UKinbound’s diverse programme of virtual and in-person events, alongside head of events Saara Vuorela-Valladares, beginning with the association’s annual convention taking place in Manchester in September.
Commenting on her appointment, UKinbound chief executive, Joss Croft, said: “Morganne brings with her fantastic experience in the events sector and will be a real asset to the UKinbound team and the membership. ADVERTISEMENT“I’m delighted to have her onboard.”
Abou-Haydar began her career in Paris as a travel consultant for Voyages Menara and holds a bachelor’s degree in international tourism from Université de Cergy-Pontoise in France.
Abou-Haydar added: “I am so thrilled to join UKinbound.
“I am very hopeful for the future of our great industry and can’t wait to work on many exciting events with such an amazing team.”

Older
Celebrity Equinox sails from Fort Lauderdale as recovery continues

Newer
British Airways calls for end to quarantine for vaccinated travellers More

TUI Group has extended its existing credit lines until summer 2024 as the company seeks to insulate itself from the ongoing impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company said the decision gives it more time and flexibility and strengthens TUI in a market environment with continued travel restrictions.
The objective remains a rapid repayment of the government loans as soon as more holiday destinations can be travelled to in a stable manner again and the successful relaunch of tourism continues in a sustainable manner,” explained a statement.
As expected, the summer business, which has got off to a good start, is currently focused on a few holiday destinations such as Greece, Spain and Cyprus, domestic tourism and cruises by TUI Cruises.ADVERTISEMENTThe major hotel and club brands of the group – RIU, TUI Blue and Robinson – are also doing good business, TUI added.
TUI has agreed with the 19 private banks and KfW to extend the maturity of the credit line totalling €4.7 billion by two years to summer 2024.
As of July 26th, TUI had pro forma liquid funds of around €2.9 billion at its disposal (considering the announced sale of 21 properties to the Riu family an in the form of undrawn credit lines).
TUI chief executive, Fritz Joussen, said: “TUI is returning to the growth path.
“We are well positioned with our tour operators, hotel and cruise brands and we will be more efficient and digital after the Corona crisis.
“We are now financed in the medium term until summer 2024.
“This creates stability and flexibility as long as coronavirus restrictions still affect the business and markets.”

Older
Virgin Atlantic signs Middle East Airlines codeshare deal

Newer
New leadership for Hôtel Barrière Le Fouquet’s in Paris More

The economic revival of the UK is being hampered by the lack of inbound travel while flights to amber list countries take off, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).
The warning comes from the global tourism body, which represents the global private tourism sector.
New data collected by travel and analytics firm and WTTC knowledge partner ForwardKeys, reveals the highest week-on-week percentage increases in tickets booked were to Germany, which were up by 113 per cent; to Croatia up by 69 per cent; Sweden by 68 per cent; Portugal by 65 per cent and Albania, up by 64 per cent.
The data shows airline tickets booked for international trips out of the UK increased an average of 24 per cent in the week to July 13th, compared to the previous week.
Weekly flight tickets for future travel from the UK to traditional destinations have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with Greece the most popular destination, up 211 per cent compared to 2019.ADVERTISEMENTThe Bahamas follows closely, with tickets up 161 per cent on pre-pandemic levels.
Croatia has also reached pre-pandemic weekly ticketing levels in the last week (107 per cent) while tickets for travel to Spain, which reached 88 per cent of 2019 levels, are fast increasing.
While this was good news for land-locked Brits, desperate to enjoy a much-need summer holiday break, the British economy which relies on international visitor spend will have been left in the doldrums by the lack of reciprocal inbound travel.
Based on 2019 levels, the lack of inbound international visitors through July, due to concern over rising coronavirus cases and the strict quarantine rules, have robbed the UK economy of a staggering £639 million each day.
Virginia Messina, senior vice president WTTC, said: “The economic recovery is going to continue to be hampered by the lack of inbound international visitors while UK travellers are leaving the UK in increasing numbers.
“Whilst staycations are helping boost the economy, it is not nearly enough to replace the £639 million which is being lost every day.
“If the situation continues, the UK will lose out on much needed revenues which international travel provides, benefitting every level of the economy far beyond the tourism sector.”

Older
MSC Seashore delivered in Italy

Newer
Singapore Airlines partners with Hayman’s for new gin More

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced the launch of the first official public profile for a tourism board on leading social media platform Snapchat.
The move gives potential travellers the chance to explore everything that the capital of the UAE has to offer in a new and immersive way. 
Public profiles give brands the ability to have an organic presence on Snapchat, housing all their unique content in one discoverable place.
Acting as a portal to unlock everything the region has to offer, the tool will provide subscribers with exclusive travel information for Abu Dhabi, showcasing the wide variety of things to do during a stay in the emirate.
Public profiles were launched by Snapchat in 2020 and have had great success in bringing a brand’s story to life. ADVERTISEMENTThe innovative format will allow the destination to share its story with the next generation of travellers, tapping into a new demographic awaiting to discover the beautiful landscape, culture, entertainment and adventure that comes with a trip to Abu Dhabi.
More Information
Take a look at the new public profile here.

Older
Aegean Airlines moves into new home at Manchester Airport

Newer
MSC Seashore delivered in Italy More

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has branded a European Commission decision to set the winter slot use threshold at 50 per cent as “out of touch with reality”.
The trade body argued that the commission had ignored the advice and evidence presented by member states and the airline industry, which had made the case for a much lower threshold.
The announcement means that, from November to April, airlines operating at slot-regulated airports must use at least half of every single series of slots they hold.
There is no alleviation to hand back slots at the start of the season allowing airlines to match their schedule to realistic demand or enable other carriers to operate, IATA argued.
Additionally, the rule on ‘force majeure’, by which the slot rule is suspended if exceptional circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic are in effect, has been switched off for intra-EU operations.ADVERTISEMENTThe result of these changes will be to restrict the ability of airlines to operate with the agility needed to respond to unpredictable and rapidly changing demand, leading to environmentally wasteful and unnecessary flights.
“Once again the commission has shown they are out of touch with reality.
“The airline industry is still facing the worst crisis in its history.
“The commission had an open goal to use the slots regulation to promote a sustainable recovery for airlines, but they missed.
“Instead, they have shown contempt for the industry, and for the many member states that repeatedly urged a more flexible solution, by stubbornly pursuing a policy that is contrary to all the evidence presented to them,” said Willie Walsh, IATA director general.
The commission argue that the intra-EU traffic recovery this summer justified a 50 per cent use threshold with no alleviation.

Older
Norwegian Cruise Line returns to operation in Greece

Newer
Heathrow continues to feel full force of Covid-19 More

Jim Forward, chief commercial officer with Riviera Travel, will leave the business to become chief executive of Hoburne Group.
The latter is a holiday and property development company based in the south-west.
Phil Hullah, Riviera chief executive, commented: “I want to pay tribute to Jim.
“In his three years with Riviera, he has made a major contribution developing a highly-focussed and effective marketing and commercial approach.
“He has excellent business acumen and was a fine colleague. ADVERTISEMENT“I am sure that both he and Hoburne will thrive. Personally, I wish Jim and his family well as they move their focus to the south-west.”
With the search for a permanent replacement underway, ex-Saga Travel chief executive, Robin Shaw, has been drafted in to provide the Riviera team with additional business and commercial support.
Forward commented: “I am sorry to be leaving Riviera.
“Moving on to Hoburne Group will provide me with a new and different challenge, but I very much enjoyed my time at Riviera, the business has a very bright future, and I learned a great deal working with Phil and the team.”

Older
Jet2 boosts capacity to Madeira and Malta

Newer
Emirates launches new flight to Miami, Florida More

TUI UK has launched its earliest ever programme of winter holidays, available from November 1st next near, until April 2023.
The move comes as TUI aims to build on success of early summer launch responding to customer desire to book earlier.
Those who crave warmer climes during the coldest months can choose from 45 destinations, including winter classics such as the Canaries, Egypt and Mexico, as well as brand new Senegal, perfect for a new experience off the beaten track.
Located next to the Gambia in West Africa, with a lovely warm winter climate, TUI will be offering weekly direct flights from London Gatwick to Dakar on TUI Airways. ADVERTISEMENTCustomers can stay at the brand new 4T RIU Baobab in TUI’s platinum range offering 24 hours all-inclusive, swim up rooms and features unlimited a la carte restaurants.
It is positioned right on the beach in Pointe Sarene as the newest tourist resort in Senegal 100 kilometres south of Dakar, with great beaches and incredible options for exploring nature which include safari, as well as the local culture. 
Already on sale new for summer next year, the Sensatori Biomar will be available for customers to enjoy a later winter holiday in April 2023.
As the latest addition to the TUI Sensatori by Blue portfolio, its designed to appeal to the senses and allows guests to create their own unique, luxury holiday experience from the wide range of features Sensatori hotels are renowned for.
Richard Sofer, commercial and business development director at TUI, said: “We know there is pent up demand for holidays and the desire to have a holiday to look forward to is more evident now than ever before.
“Many of our customers, in particular families tied to school holidays and popular dates such as Easter, and weddings and larger groups want to book as far in advance as possible to secure their holiday of choice.
“We’re excited to launch Senegal as an exciting new winter sun destination and are confident it will appeal to customers seeking value for money, great all-inclusive resorts and guaranteed sunshine as well an experience that is a little bit different.”

Older
ABTA urges further opening ahead of government review

Newer
Government support sees American return to profit More