Consortia

The Big Question: Is it time for a change of government?

With prime minister Rishi Sunak compelled to call an election within the next 12 months, what’s at stake for travel?

Rob Scott: 'The success of P&O Cruises is all down to agents'

P&O Cruises’ Rob Scott tells Harry Kemble about his plans to get the trade even more involved in the line’s future growth, and the partnerships helping to entice new customers

If Only vows to cut agent call waits further during peaks

The luxury specialist has also sent 200 agent partners printed copies of its new 76-page brochure, its first featuring European beach holidays, ahead of peaks

Canadian Affair offering places on new-look fams as part of peaks push

Canadian Affair has launched a new-style agents’ fam trip prize promotion as part of its January campaign

Tui launches 'extra thank you' incentives to boost trade sales

The incentives run for five weeks starting from 22 December, with direct communications being sent to agents in the build-up to Christmas

Forget ‘make do and mend’ travel marketing and build your brand to last in 2024

Travel marketing in 2023 was ’make do and mend’ with a reliance on discounts and digital ad spend. Andrew Shelton urges agents to build their brand to last in 2024.

Jet2holidays unveils 'heavyweight' trade-focused peaks campaign with agent offer

From 1 January 2024, Jet2holidays will give travel agents the chance to win one of 100 fam trip places with Jet2holidays

Four issues that could stand in the way of another 'big year' for cruise

Cruise chiefs, speaking at the Clia Forum on Tuesday (19 December), are certain the sector is on the up – but urged agents to be mindful of several issues that could prevent them from the making the most of the rebound

Delays inevitable following EU entry-exit rollout next year, Advantage boss warns

Advantage chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said said it is likely there will be delays when the EU introduces biometric border checks next year

Why some of travel's biggest brands are turning – or returning – to the trade

TTG caught up with a handful of major brands that are either starting to work with agents again, or work with the trade for the first time. Gary Noakes reports

Ben Bouldin: 'Agents are getting closer to their optimum fighting weight'

Royal Caribbean International vice-president Ben Bouldin says the UK trade’s pandemic rebound is almost complete ahead of what is set to be another critical year of recovery

Tui launches new booking tools to independent agents to boost peaks sales

Ahead of the peaks booking period, Tui is giving agents the tools to sell its products to customers

Latin Routes releases first trade brochure in four years

The Truly Individual Holidays to Latin America brochure explores the ’vibrant cultures, breathtaking landscapes and rich cultures of Latin America’

Shortlist revealed for Top 50 Travel Agencies 2024 by TTG

The Top 50 Travel Agencies 2024 by TTG ceremony will be held at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse in April, where the next Top 50 will be named

AmaWaterways unveils wave campaign after bumper sales year

Every suite reservation will also be upgraded to business class flights as part of the campaign, which launches on 26 December.

UK managing director Jamie Loizou said the river line’s latest wave campaign “is designed to appeal to luxury travellers”, adding that offers would make it easier for travel agents to sell its products.

AmaWaterways’ UK team has reported record 2023 booking levels and a 78% spike in the number of UK travel agencies booking its river cruises. Bookings are up 46% versus the same period in 2019.

The Big Question: Has the pandemic changed peaks for ever?

Peaks has long been one of travel’s rare certainties, but has consumer, supplier and agent behaviour changed since 2020?

Advantage boss confident current strong booking levels 'to continue into 2024'

Bookings departing between 18 and 28 December are up 44% year-on-year, according to Advantage’s chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said

Advantage peaks campaign to push added value of booking with an agent

According to head of marketing David Forder, the campaign will focus on highlighting the added benefits of booking with a travel agent

Travel Counsellors holds first World Cup incentive scheme since 2018

Travel Counsellors launches its first global incentive scheme for five years

Solmar Villa Holidays bolsters trade team with experienced hire

Villa specialist Solmar adds new member to its trade team, with expansion plans for 2024

How TTNG's snow-hit conference delivered pre-peaks positivity

Despite record snowfall causing major disruption in host city Munich, Travel Network Group conference delegates showed their resilience

Louise Rothwell joins Blue Bay's PTCs as business development executive

Rothwell, who has run her own self-employed travel brand for the past 10 years, will work alongside fellow BDE Vikki Griffin to help the PTCs establish and grow their brands with Blue Bay

Black Friday: What is it really worth to travel agents?

Consumer watchdog Which? says more ’genuine’ holiday discounts are helping drive consumer demand, but are agents feeling the positive effects of the annual bonanza?

Tui boss backs third-party retailers, but says app will go global

Tui has reiterated its faith in third-party agents, but has outlined plans to capture more commoditised sales via a global roll-out of its app