In depth

Can travel embrace AI while retaining its human touch? Plus, 12 other ITT conference highlights

The war for talent, travel’s stand on DEI, and AI’s coming of age were among the key talking points at the 2025 ITT conference in Sardinia this week...

Turkish Airlines ramps up UK and Ireland summer schedule

Turkish Airlines has added a raft of new frequencies to major UK and Ireland airports as demand spikes for Istanbul and destinations beyond the carrier’s home hub

Clients concerned about crowds in Alaska? This could be the ship for them

With critics warning that bigger ships are swamping Alaska’s ports, your clients might feel more comfortable on a smaller ship such as Oceania Cruises’ Riviera

'Lean on our specialists' expertise to sell Italy,' association urges agents

Abtoi chair Lisa Leggate told TTG the best way for the association’s members to get closer to the trade is through networking and events such as WTM

Four dos and don'ts to avoid carelessness when promoting your green credentials

Sustainability strategist Rachel McCaffrey, a member of the We Are Llama travel marketing collective, explores how agents can keep their sustainability marketing the right side of regulations

How to generate £500,000+ from a client event

Client events are a mainstay for many agencies, with some generating revenue in the hundreds of thousands. Three high-flying travel businesses share what works for them

‘I tried all the rides and attractions at Epic Universe – here are my Top 5’

Universal’s $7 billion opening is the first completely new theme park in Orlando for 25 years – but is it worth the wait?

Malaysia relying on UK agents to increase tourist numbers, deputy PM says

Malaysian deputy prime minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced the government’s intention to increase the number of UK tourists to the country to 500,000 in 2026

Cruise veteran urges luxury lines to copy Gucci and Armani's pricing strategies

Steve Odell, senior vice-president, international and consumer sales for Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises, revealed Oceania is currently undergoing a rebranding exercise

Why Canada’s tourism chiefs have taken a bold new direction…

Landscapes and nature have been dropped from one tourist board’s latest campaign in favour of more authentic content

How I landed a £40k Cunard booking after stepping off Queen Mary 2

GoCruise & Travel franchisee Zoe Coope said agents should ’go the extra mile’ when making big bookings, as these types of holidays are ’a big event in someone’s life’

Travel brands ‘need a bit more carrot and stick when it comes to decarbonising’

Felix Hamer, expedition line HX’s strategy manager (sustainability), said brands shouldn’t be afraid of admitting they are at the start of a journey, and should start taking whatever action they can – even if it starts with low-hanging fruit – with a focus on transparency rather than perfection in the first instance.

Inside the luxurious Ibiza hotel for clients who want to party hard – and relax harder

Steps away from the nightlife, Ibiza Gran Hotel provides a luxury retreat for guests who’d rather leave the party at the club

InteleTravel, Crystal Cruises and Tui: all the latest travel trade people moves

Moves this week include InteleTravel recruiting Advantage Travel Partnership’s Kelly Cookes, while Carnival Cruise Line’s former international sales director Luke Smith has joined an ultra-luxury cruise line

Travel Village Group to launch new podcast series aimed at bringing 'travel to life'

The Blackpool-based business will invite a mix of guests and employees to share their stories when the first episode airs later this month

Travel Zing launches cruise brand – and immediately bags two £10k bookings

Scottish agency Travel Zing has capitalised on the growing appetite for cruise holidays by revisiting an old idea and launching a cruise-focused brand, Cruizing

'Tui's seeing really strong growth with agents – why would we turn away from that?'

Nearly six months into his new role as Tui’s marketing and sales director, and two years on from Tui’s decision to re-engage the trade, Bart Quinton Smith talks TTG through how Tui is evolving its relationship with independent and third-party agents

Travel and tourism brands told time has come to appoint 'an excite and delight director'

ITT conference hears it is no longer enough for travel and tourism businesses just to deliver on people’s expectations, they must go beyond them

Next generation of industry talent 'won't put up with inaction on DEI'

While numerous big companies have publicly turned their backs on DEI, easyJet and Tui have revealed they are ’doubling down’ on inclusion – here’s why.

Cumbria Travel bids farewell to agent retiring after 38 years

Baxter joined the travel industry in 1987 as an AT Mays travel assistant before joining Thomas Cook, where she worked for 33 years

Living the dream: the growing – and lucrative – market starting to appear on the trade's radar

TTG contributor Dave Monk discovers how the growing number of residential ships offer both high-net-worth clients and cruise agents a dream scenario

Full Circle pivots away from 'aggressive' fly-and-flop market with new wellness business

Full Circle boss Niall Douglas encouraged the launch of Full Circle Retreats because he wanted the agency to pivot away from the competitive ’two flights, one hotel’ market

Sports Entertainment Tours targets more agent partners following successful trade launch

A Belfast-based sport and music tour specialist wants to work with more agents in the United Kingdom after the success of partnerships in Northern Ireland and the Republic

TTG 30 Under 30 to host fundraising pub quiz and live music night

The 2024/25 cohort will be raising money for the Marie Curie cancer care charity in support of Virgin Voyages business development manager Layla Davies, whose mum passed away in October from the disease