Organisations & Operators,

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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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New research from ABTA reinforces an ongoing trend seen throughout the pandemic for people seeking the security and reassurance of booking a package holiday with a travel professional.
The research, conducted at the beginning of July, shows holidaymakers are 25 per cent more likely to book a holiday with a travel professional now than before the pandemic, with half citing the security of a package holiday as their main reason.
This was followed by trusting travel companies to look after them (48 per cent), and the travel professional’s up-to-date advice (42 per cent).
The findings also show that consumer confidence in and awareness of the ABTA brand remains consistent with pre-pandemic levels, with almost three-quarters of respondents associating the brand most strongly with reassuring (74 per cent), experts (74 per cent), confidence (73 per cent) and safe (73 per cent).
ABTA remains the most recognised travel association among those surveyed, with 77 per cent of people saying they had heard of the organisation.ADVERTISEMENTTo support the restart of international travel and encourage bookings with an ABTA member, ABTA is promoting its Book with Confidence tips on social media over the summer and continuing to help holidaymakers feel informed, reassured, confident and excited to book an overseas holiday this year via its ongoing #ReadySteadyTravel campaign.
Recent activities include videos inspiring people to book holidays to green and amber list countries, advice on testing for travel and blogs on travel to green and amber list countries.
ABTA is also regularly updating the essential information and guidance on travelling during the pandemic in the #ReadySteadyTravel hub here.
ABTA Members are encouraged to share the latest advice and travel inspiration content with their customers by downloading the campaign assets and suggested social media posts from the marketing toolkit in the MemberZone.
Shelly Beresford, head of brand and marketing at ABTA, said: “People continue to recognise the huge benefits that come with booking their holidays through an ABTA travel professional, with the ABTA brand remaining as highly regarded as ever.
“We know there is huge pent-up demand for overseas holidays after so many months of restrictions, but that there is also a lot of information that people to know and understand before they travel, so we’re making sure that the #ReadySteadyTravel campaign keeps holidaymakers informed about the changes that will affect their travel plans, reassured about the prospect of taking an overseas holiday and excited to book their well-deserved break with an ABTA member.”

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The biggest crisis in the history of tourism continues into a second year.
Between January and May, international tourist arrivals were 85 per cent below 2019 levels (or a 65 per cent drop on 2020), UNWTO data shows.
Despite a small uptick in May, the emergence of Covid-19 variants and the continued imposition of restrictions are weighing on the recovery of international travel.
Meanwhile, domestic tourism continues to rebound in many parts of the world.
The latest UNWTO data shows that over the first five months of the year, world destinations recorded 147 million fewer international arrivals (overnight visitors) compared to the same period of 2020, or 460 million less than pre-pandemic year of 2019.
However, the data does point to a relatively small upturn in May, with arrivals declining by 82 per cent (versus May 2019), after falling by 86 per cent in April. ADVERTISEMENTThis slight upward trend emerged as some destinations started to ease restrictions and consumer confidence rose slightly.
“Accelerating the pace of vaccination worldwide, working on effective coordination and communication on ever changing travel restrictions while advancing digital tools to facilitate mobility will be critical to rebuild trust in travel and restart tourism,” argued UNWTO secretary general, Zurab Pololikashvili.
International tourism is slowly picking up, though recovery remains very fragile and uneven.
Rising concerns over the Delta variant of the virus have led several countries to reimpose restrictive measures.
In addition, the volatility and lack of clear information on entry requirements could continue to weigh on the resumption of international travel during the northern hemisphere’s summer season.
However, vaccination programmes around the world, together with softer restrictions for vaccinated travellers and the use of digital tools such as the EU Digital COVID Certificate, are all contributing to the gradual normalization of travel.
In addition, domestic travel is driving the recovery in many destinations, especially those with large domestic markets.
Domestic air seat capacity in China and Russia has already exceeded pre-crisis levels, while domestic travel in the United States is strengthening further.

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