Organisations & Operators,

With families enjoying the festive holidays and thoughts turning to sunny climates for 2022, travellers looking for their next holiday are reminded to check for financial protection when booking their getaways.
Research by the UK Civil Aviation Authority has found that 74 per cent of people consider ATOL protection more important since the pandemic.
Booking a package holiday that is financially protected by the ATOL scheme is a straightforward way to protect a trip.
ATOL protection means that if the travel company you booked with ceases trading, you will either get your money back, or, if you have already begun your holiday, be able to complete your trip at no extra cost.
Before booking, you should always check that your travel provider is a legitimate ATOL holder. ADVERTISEMENTYou can do this on the UK Civil Aviation Authority website.
While ATOL protected package holidays provide the best possible level of financial protection, there are other ways of booking trips.
Michael Budge, head of ATOL at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said: “With many travellers considering ATOL protection more important since the pandemic, we want to make sure consumers are aware of the financial protection that ATOL provides.
“While travel has not yet normalised, we’re asking holidaymakers to make smart decisions for their well-earned breaks by booking ATOL protected trips.”

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WTTC: Labour shortages hitting UK tourism trade More

A new analysis of staff shortages by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed 205,000 tourism jobs across the UK predicted to remain unfilled by the end of this year.
The figures from WTTC, which represents the global private tourism sector, show for the first time the enormous impact staff shortages could have on the economic recovery.
Data compiled by Oxford Economics for WTTC, analysed staff shortages across the UK and other major tourism markets, including the US, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal, between July and December this year.
All countries showed significant staff shortages, with employment demand starting to outstrip the available labour supply.
As unemployment rates decrease and demand rises, tourism businesses have been left struggling to fill available job vacancies.
The UK alone is predicted to see a shortfall of around 12 per cent, with one in eight job vacancies left unfilled.
Julia Simpson, WTTC chief executive, said: “The economic recovery could be jeopardised if we don’t have enough people to fill these jobs as travellers return.ADVERTISEMENT“If we cannot fill these vacancies, it could threaten the survival of tourism businesses up and down the UK.
“Companies dependent on tourism have been hanging on for the upside, but this is just another blow that many may not survive.”
The global tourism body also warns reinstating damaging travel restrictions, such as the recent measures aimed at curbing the spread of the new variant, will not stop the virus and only damage livelihoods.
Since the start of the pandemic, the UK job retention scheme paid furloughed workers 80 per cent of their pre-pandemic income, with workers earnings up to a maximum of £2,500 a month.
As a result, the fall in employment was not as sharp as the fall in demand for the sector, leading to a reduction of only 6.5 per cent in direct tourism employment in 2020, which equates to 111,000 job losses.
As the demand for travel began to strengthen during the second half of 2021, in line with easing of restrictions and the recovering domestic market, the squeeze on labour has been unable to match the rising demand.
According to the report, demand for tourism jobs is forecast at nearly 1.7 million in the second half of 2021, with labour shortages projected at 205,000, equating to one in eight unfilled vacancies.
Next year, the labour market is expected to remain tight with a forecast shortage of 15,000 workers.

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Tui UK has launched a ‘Live Happy’ sale on all summer holidays departing between May and the end of October next year.
The sale, which includes savings of up to £300 on package holidays flying with Tui Airways or other airlines with the code SALE, has thousands of free kids’ places up for grabs, low deposits from £60 per person and £0 deposit on direct debit bookings made online.
In addition, the sale offers single parents and solo travellers the opportunity to save £200 on bookings with one adult and a minimum spend of £800, or £250 on long-haul bookings with one adult and a minimum spend of £1,000. 
Whether cruise lovers prefer exploring the Mediterranean or the Caribbean, they can benefit from £300 off Marella Cruises departing between May 2022 and April 2023 with the code CRUISE300.
Or, for cruisers looking to explore the cities of Europe from some of the finest waterways, TUI River Cruises is offering a saving of £300 on sailings departing between to March 28th and October 2028th next year with the code TUIRC300. ADVERTISEMENTRichard Sofer, commercial and business development director at TUI, said: “Many of our customers haven’t had a holiday for a while, so are booking more premium hotels, upgraded rooms or longer durations to make their long-awaited getaway extra special.
“This is why we’re offering discounts across our full range of holidays, affordable testing packages and the reassurance of our Customer Promise to help everyone have the break they deserve and can look forward to next summer.”

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The latest Travel with Confidence national advertising campaign from ABTA will launch with social media advertising on Boxing Day.
The work drives home the benefits of booking and travelling with an ABTA member.
Following the success of last year’s videos which reached more than ten million people, ABTA has once again produced a lead video for Facebook and a shorter version for Instagram which feature a range of members talking about the expertise, personal service and reassurance that comes from booking with member,
To continue to support consumer confidence in the coming weeks, ABTA will turn the testimonials from customers into a series of shorter videos that Members can share across their own social channels, as well as animated gifs which show the benefits of booking with an ABTA member.
Campaign materials will be added to the marketing toolkit from January and ABTA will be promoting all new social media assets on the ABTA member Facebook page.ADVERTISEMENTBeyond social media, 30-second radio adverts on Heart Radio across the country from December 27th until mid-January will urge listeners to look for the ABTA logo when they book so they know they’ll get the information, help and advice they need to travel with confidence.
Graeme Buck, director of communications at ABTA, said: “After another difficult year, many people are desperate to get away on an overseas break and increasingly want the expertise and reassurance that comes from booking with a trusted travel professional.”
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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has sought to quell concerns over the safety of air travel after one of its own experts said the chance of catching Covid-19 while flying had significantly increased following the spread of the Omicron variant.
Aircraft passengers are twice or even three times more likely to catch Covid-19 during a flight since the emergence of the new strain, according to IATA medical advisor, David Powell.
In an interview with Bloomberg, he argued Omicron is rapidly spreading just as more travellers take to the skies for year-end holidays and family reunions.ADVERTISEMENTThe new strain is highly transmissible and has become dominant in a matter of weeks, accounting for more than 70 per cent of all new cases in the United States.
IATA has now clarified that aircraft cabins remain a very low risk environment for contracting Covid-19 even though Omicron appears to be more transmissible than other variants in all environments.
Factors that contribute to the very low risks include aircraft design characteristics (direction of air flow, rate of air exchange and filtration), the forward orientation of passengers while seated, well-enforced masking, and enhanced sanitary measures.
The controlled nature of the aircraft cabin compared to other enclosed environments adds a further measure of protection, Powell noted in a release.

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Scott Dunn unveils new brand proposition

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Over the course of the pandemic, luxury tour operator Scott Dunn has taken the time to speak to its guests to ensure that the brand is listening and adapting to evolving demographics and booking patterns.
The result is a fresh new brand proposition – defining a legacy for the next generation of travel whilst ensuring that the loyal customer base is engaged.
The campaign, titled ‘Out of the Ordinary’, is founded on three core values; In The Know, In the Detail and Inspiring.
These key pillars are experienced through an all-new brand colour palette, logo and website.
Andre Rickerby, chief marketing officer at Scott Dunn explains: “Over the past two years, we have undertaken regular guest research and the results highlighted the high value guests place on our knowledge as well as our passion for travel. ADVERTISEMENT“Emerging from the pandemic, guests want to experience the sheer joy and magic of travel brought to life.
“We’ve taken this feedback and worked with specialist branding agency the Clearing to review and build on our 35-year heritage, ensuring the brand is true to our values and reflects what our guests expect from us.
“The new brand positioning dials up inspiration with a vibrant look and feel through a new colour palette and tone of voice, whilst ensuring that Scott Dunn continues to be at the forefront of luxury travel.”
This overhauled website showcases revitalised destination content and itineraries which are aligned with the different personas that travel with Scott Dunn.
Scott Dunn chief executive, Sonia Davies, said: “With travel firmly back on the agenda, we are delighted to be starting 2022 with a fresh brand proposition.
“Over the past 18 months we’ve taken time to listen to our guests and understand what’s important to them. 
“We have kept this insight front of mind as we’ve innovated and implemented new initiatives to ensure Scott Dunn reflects the luxury traveller of today, whilst retaining its founding principles.
“Our new brand values of being ‘in the detail, in the know and inspiring’ underpin everything we do, and we are delighted to help more people around the world rediscover the magic of travel.”
Scott Dunn will be moving its London HQ to new premises in Hammersmith this month.

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ABTA has criticised £1 billion in emergency funding for the hospitality sector, arguing the plight of the travel industry has been ignored.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak unveiled the cash earlier as the Omicron variant of Covid-19 disrupts the festive season.
Under the plans, the government will provide one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises for businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors in England.
In response, ABTA director of public affair, Luke Petherbridge, said: “The statement today once again ignores the direct impact of government policy decisions on businesses reliant on international travel.
“Travel agents, tour operators and travel management companies will rightly be asking why they haven’t been given the same treatment as other businesses that are suffering at this time.”ADVERTISEMENTHe added: “Average annual revenue across the travel industry is down by nearly 80 per cent on pre-crisis levels even before Omicron emerged, and the re-introduction of enhanced testing – both pre and post arrival – have added significant costs and notably dampened consumer demand.
“As the sector approaches what should be the peak sales period for booking holidays for summer 2022, businesses are instead facing another round of heart-breaking and demoralising cancellations, with no indication that the government is listening to the challenges they are facing.”
Petherbridge acknowledged funds were available through the Additional Restrictions Grants scheme, but said this was insufficient.
“What’s more, travel businesses will have to compete with companies in other industry sectors to get some of this cash,” he explained.
“It simply isn’t good enough for the government to continue to ignore an industry that, prior to Covid-19, supported over 500,000 jobs and generated more than £37 billion for the UK economy.
Julia Lo Bue-Said, chief executive at Advantage Travel Partnership, was slightly more optimistic, but said there were questions to answer.
She added: “We’re awaiting the detailed guidance from Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) regarding the announcement from the chancellor and we’d like to understand the definition of ‘leisure’ businesses as retail travel agents were included in previous grants.
“However, this will mean that half of Advantage’s non-retail business are unlikely to qualify for grants despite seeing an 80 per cent drop in revenue.
“In addition, travel companies will have to fight tooth and nail against other businesses to qualify for the Additional Restrictions Grants that the chancellor has announced, but come at the discretion of local authorities.
“Last week we wrote to the chancellor again urging him to provide financial support to the travel trade, and to recognise that they have been locked down, unable to fully trade and yet again it looks as though our members are at the back of the queue.”
Joss Croft, chief executive of UKinbound, echoed calls for sector specific support.
“The budget will undoubtedly help domestic tourism businesses that are facing unprecedented challenges due to the Omicron restrictions which is obviously good news.
“However, it is astounding that hospitality businesses, which can trade, will receive sector specific support, but the UK’s tourism supply chain, such as inbound UK tour and coach operators, are being left to wither and die.”
He added: “The government’s own arrival testing and quarantine restrictions has seen inbound business virtually wiped out for 22 months.
“The sector has had no targeted support, which will leave many businesses involved in the UK’s fifth largest export sector, inbound tourism, left wondering just how little the government cares or understands.”

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Sunak unveils £1bn support for UK hospitality sector More

ABTA has requested an urgent meeting with the chancellor of the exchequer, Rishi Sunak, and the secretary of state for transport, Grant Shapps, to discuss the financial situation in the tourism sector.
The body argues there is a pressing need for financial support for the industry.
It follows other ABTA approaches to the government on the same issues over the past two weeks.  ADVERTISEMENTABTA has made its fresh request in the wake of France imposing a temporary ban on most travel from the UK.
ABTA chief executive, Mark Tanzer, said: “The government has recognised the plight of the UK hospitality sector, with trade down by 40 per cent in December.
“But at the same time, the travel industry, where income has been down by 78 per cent this year, and further impacted by Omicron restrictions since late November, continues to be ignored.
“Over the past fortnight, we have heard nothing from government about how travel and tourism might be supported. 
“The time to act is now.”

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