Opinion

Pippa Jacks: 'Sensitive travel marketing could bring lockdown relief'

Some customers might need the chance to look ahead, be inspired and dream about future travel plans

Steve Endacott: Could coronavirus fracture the EU?

How will Europe’s political landscape look for the travel sector after it recovers from the pandemic?

Abta: 'Tell your MP what's happening to your business'

Association’s head of public affairs Luke Petherbridge urges travel businesses to ’speak up’ and lobby MPs and policymakers for change amid the coronavirus crisis

Steve Endacott: 'Small and medium-sized business must save themselves'

‘Use your time wisely; it costs nothing, and can save a lot of money when the rebound comes. Start thinking and planning now’

Sophie Griffiths: 'To refund or not to refund?'

In this brutal climate, distributing widespread refunds will ultimately lead to the demise of travel firms

Phil Nuttall: ‘Travel agents are caught between a rock and a hard place’

Before we even think about a boom in bookings or when we are likely to start up operations again, we need to take stock as an industry

Richard Dixon: ‘The industry feels like the Wild West'

On a normal Saturday this would be a great result – a whole afternoon of sport to lose myself in. But with all sport on hold amid these strange times, my banishment feels a whole lot less appealing.

Until, that is, I come across one of my favourite old films, Dodge City, a 1939 classic western starring Errol Flynn as a Texas cattle agent who takes up the job of sheriff to clean up the rampant lawlessness rife in the city.

‘Japan will shine when the Olympics does eventually go ahead’

InsideJapan Tours is looking ahead to 2021 now new dates have been fixed for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

Sophie Griffiths: ‘Mixed messages harm the industry long-term’

It’s no coincidence this week’s TTG contains three references to the “Wild West”

Ex-Freedom member: 'Help for self-employed leaves me high and dry’

The government’s help for self-employed people is the final nail in the coffin

‘Industry should lobby for new ‘coronavirus clear’ certificates’

The UK government has already ordered 3.5 million coronavirus self-test kits

Not Just Travel: Relief for self-employed goes only so far

As self-employed business owners, homeworkers will be breathing a sigh of relief that they have been rightfully acknowledged.

Over the next few days, no doubt the finer details will become clearer and I hope that any cracks in the legislation will soon become apparent and will be addressed.

Of course, it’s not completely black and white. Those with profits of more than £50,000 look, at present, to be the losers. Books showing £51,000 profit will slip through the net, but then they should be able to tap into the VAT breaks and business interruption loans.

David Speakman: ‘Remember, these are customers that you should keep for life’

I recently wrote an open letter to Travel Counsellors regarding their attitude, self-belief and how they must tackle the present crisis.

‘UK airlines simply want a level playing field’

The displays of altruism, the efforts of volunteers and central government support around the globe have been incredible. And yet the UK’s aviation industry has been given a bum deal, again

How helpful are the new measures for self-employed workers?

In an attempt to convince the self-employed that they were not being forgotten, the chancellor has just announced a new support package designed to cover around 95% of the self-employed.

‘Encourage rebooking and protect the whole industry’

We appreciate that the situation with Covid-19 is having a huge impact on everyone’s business at the moment, and I empathise wholeheartedly with every single one of you facing so much uncertainty

Travel Counsellors: ‘We’ll be stronger by sticking together’

We have nurtured a culture with a real sense of helping each other

Sophie Griffiths: TTG stands with you through the coronavirus crisis

It’s the human side of the travel industry that shines brightest

Daniel Pearce: ‘How TTG Media is combatting Covid-19’

For businesses, the war against the effects of Covid-19 is not going to be swift. But the decisions and actions that we take in these opening weeks will define which of those businesses will emerge from the battlefield stronger than before

Steve Endacott: 'Commercially nationalise UK airlines now!'

“As a capitalist, I have historically opposed nationalisation, but in times of crisis we need exceptional measures”

'The government will back SMEs through difficult days ahead'

Do not be afraid to talk during these difficult times

'This crisis has shown our time is valuable – and needs monetising'

If you had said that we would ever reach a situation like this, we would have laughed

'I've had to make the hardest business decision of my career'

The realisation was horrible. Over the weekend I did the maths – in order for my travel startup to survive, I’d need to ask my team to take unpaid leave.

11 ways to keep business – and staff – morale up through the crisis

Sales coach Simon Cox offers tips on keeping customers, staff and your business upbeat as the travel industry faces unprecedented challenges