Economy

The rise of rail and 'coolcations', and why agents will have to 'work for it' in 2025

Reflections on a strong but challenging 2024, a disappointing Budget and demand for cooler climes were some of the debates waged in the final Agenda 2024 seminar hosted by TTG and PwC

2025: Should you sell up, take on more staff – or just keep calm and carry on?

What does 2025 have in store for travel businesses? TTG assesses some of the challenges – and opportunities – coming in the new year

Scottish agents set to miss out on business rates relief again

The Scottish parliament has again denied high street agents help with business rates despite extending relief to the hospitality sector

Louise Haigh, tax hikes and the 'B' word – seven takeaways from Abta Travel Matters

Labour’s approach to travel, Brexit frustrations and the climate crisis were all top of the agenda at the latest Abta Travel Matters this week

Travel experiencing 'exponential growth' in Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales

The Black Friday-Cyber Monday sales window has become a ’relevant promotional’ period for the travel industry, agreed a panel of travel industry experts at TTG’s Agenda 2024 Winter Breakfast

Travel bucks wider retail trends again in November, despite tough Budget

New Barclays research shows travel agencies doing very well, partly as consumers cut back on essential spend to save for luxuries

Outbound travel now contributing more to UK economy than pre-pandemic

Outbound travel’s contribution to UK PLC now exceeds that of pre-pandemic, new figures from Abta estimate

Just how much will the Budget cost the travel industry?

Labour’s first Budget since taking power has left businesses reeling, and travel was no exception. So to what extent could the reforms hamper growth for agents and suppliers?

Transport secretary Louise Haigh: 'This govt is not anti-flying'

Transport secretary Louise Haigh backs the aviation industry and airport expansion, telling conference Britain’s growth ’depends on you’

Heathrow boss: 'Airport expansion decision to be made next year'

Heathrow’s chief executive Thomas Woldbye has said a decision on a third runway will be made next year but needs the backing of the industry and government

Travel urged to seek new allies in Westminster and not 'give up' on government

The former chair of parliament’s transport committee told Aito conference delegates to engage with the ’raft of new MPs’ in Westminster to seek new allies for the industry

Poll: Will the recent Budget help or hinder your business?

Billed as a once-in-a-parliament reset to the nation’s finances, last month’s Budget saw chancellor Rachel Reeves deliver reforms that could have wide-ranging implications for how the travel trade goes about its business

Budget to push up Hays Travel's business costs by more than £6 million

Dame Irene Hays says increases in minimum wages outlined in the Budget will mean ’a significant hike in salaries’

Low-cost travel era ‘evolving into era of value travel’

A panel of experts at WTM London said post-Covid prices were moderating, and that low-cost travel was not dead

Tourism minister pledges to amplify outbound sector's voice at government level

Speaking to TTG at WTM London, tourism minister Sir Chris Bryant pledged to invite more outbound industry members onto a key government committee, saying he wants to listen

'Houston, we appear to have an image problem'

’Whether travellers factor the governance of a destination into their holiday booking decisions is something those involved in promoting and selling the US will learn over the next four years,’ writes Phil Bloomfield for TTG following Donald Trump’s re-election

Consumers' cost and climate worries to become barriers to travel spend – report

The latest WTM Global Travel Report highlights how cost will impact consumer decision making for travel spend and become a challenge to industry

'Stage set for real spending growth' as travel tops consumers' priorities

Growth in consumer spending with travel agents slowed a little in October despite an overall uptick in spending on travel, which consumers have ranked as their number one discretionary spending priority

'Travel won't be happy with the Budget, but it could have been much worse'

Legal advisor to the Association of Atol Companies, Alan Bowen, runs over the key announcements in chancellor Rachel Reeves Budget statement on Wednesday (30 October)

'A steep climb to stand still': travel reacts to 'punishing' Budget

Travel’s senior leaders have delivered their verdict on the Budget, which saw chancellor Rachel Reeves increase APD, National Insurance and the minimum and living wages, and promise business rates reform

What will the chancellor's Budget statement mean for travel?

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has unveiled the first Budget of the new parliament, billed as a ’once-in-a-generation’ reset of the country’s finances

Budget 2024: What does the travel industry want and need from the chancellor today?

The travel industry has laid out what it would like to see in Wednesday’s crunch Budget (30 October) as chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares the new government’s first taxing and spending plan

‘Positives’ for travel in new govt's first 100 days, says Abta

While the travel association warned of potential downsides to come in the Budget, it added the industry could draw some positives from the new government’s first 100 days

Illinois’ luxury hotels see business boost after Midwest campaign launch

The Midwestern state is making major investment in its luxury tourism offerings.