In an exclusive interview with editor Sophie Griffiths, previewed above and set to air as part of TTG’s Agenda 2021 conference on Tuesday (8 December), Huddleston defended the government’s record on backing travel and tourism businesses.
You can find out more about Agenda 2021, which will take place over Monday and Tuesday this week (7-8 December), and register here.
Visit the Agenda 2021 event page
Pressed on whether claims from travel firms and industry professionals they got "no support" were accurate, Huddleston said: "Of course they’ve had support, massive amounts of support.
"At the end of the day, we’ll end up having a calculation totalling up sector by sector what the support was in terms of grants, business rates relief, furlough, tax deferments, a whole host of things.
"And I think we’ll find, actually, the sectors we’re talking about – travel and tourism – actually got huge amounts of support."
TTG’s interview with Huddleston, which will close out the conference on Tuesday afternoon, will be one of three with MPs responsible for the UK’s travel and tourism industries.
Aviation and maritime minister Robert Courts will deliver an address at 4.30pm on Monday (7 December), which will be followed by a live Q&A, before Huw Merriman, chair of the government’s transport committee, joins the conference for an interview and live Q&A from 1.45pm on Tuesday (8 December).
During Agenda 2021, TTG will also be presenting new, exclusive research – produced in partnership with PwC – exploring the what the new travel landscape will look like as the industry emerges from the devastating impacts of Covid-19.
Other sessions over the two-day event will look at Brexit, issues of diversity and inclusion, travel in the post-Covid and post-Trump world and how it can be a force for good, and how travel can "build back better" through consumer protection and cash flow reform.
For more information on Agenda 2021, and to register, visit the dedicated Agenda 2021 site.
Agenda 2021 for Smarter, Better, Fairer Travel is an exclusive TTG+ members event. Sign up today and pay only £5 a month until 31 January 2021.
TTG+ Members will not only gain access to this conference live and on-demand, but many other TTG+ online events too, plus unlimited news and the TTG Supplier Directory Live. Become a Premium Member and also explore the TTG Archive and Travel Agent Tracker.
Alternatively, you can get access to the event and all of the TTG+ member benefits for 48 hours, by purchasing a two-day pass for £49 (+VAT).
