Market update: 18 August

An introduction to the festival, outlining what to expect from the seminar, masterclasses, interactive sessions and agent training, plus some housekeeping.

Tour operators discuss current travel trends, including which destinations are top of customers’ wish lists, how long-haul holidays are performing in comparison to short-haul breaks, product updates and what agents can do to restore consumer confidence and improve sales whilst the government’s traffic light system remains in place.

Kelly Cookes, leisure director, Advantage Travel Centres	Colin Currie, head of trade partnerships, Gold Medal

With the recent restart of international cruise, we take a look at how cruise lines are preparing to take their customers ashore in foreign countries once more. Which destinations will return to itineraries first? And what will shore excursions look like this summer and beyond?

Mark Walter, head of UK Sales, Hurtigruten	Peter Shanks, managing director UK, Ireland, Middle East & Africa, Silversea

This session will explore what destination trends are emerging in the luxury market in summer 2021. Is a wider range of luxury destinations benefitting as customers seek higher-spend holidays as a result of pent-up demand? What countries are at the top of luxury travellers’ bucket lists? And which new hotels and experiences are proving popular on high-end holidays?

Gordon McCreadie, general manager, If Only	Simon Jeffries, head of product and commercial, Carrier

WATCH ON DEMAND