Essential

CV Villas names Hollie Anderson as new business development executive

Anderson has previously worked at Kuoni, and as an account executive for a major UK university

Watchdog seeks views on Hays Travel's deals for Polka Dot Travel and Millington Travel

Hays acquired the two miniples in the space of a week last year, adding 29 shops to its network, but has been told by the Competition and Markets Authority to pause any efforts to integrate them

Wizz Air plans flights between UK and US ahead of the 2026 Fifa World Cup

The license could allow Wizz Air to operate one-off charter flights for English and Scottish football fans heading to the Fifa World Cup in the US this summer

Growth in average travel salaries stalls in 2025 while recruitment dips

Averages wages increased by just 1.8% last year compared with hikes of 8.5% in 2024 and 11.5% in 2023 and 2022, while new job placements, candidates and vacancies all fell year-on-year

Industry to come together for one-day HR in Travel event next month

HR in Travel – Engage will be an opportunity for HR leaders to network, share insights and seek solutions to common issues as they navigate a 'rapidly changing' landscape

Celebrity's Michael Young-Richards joins Crystal as key account manager

Crystal has hired Michael Young-Richards as key account manager for the UK and Ireland, as part of its longterm commitment to supporting its trade partners

Gold Crest Holidays ceases trading after more than 30 years and cancels all future package breaks

Abta said it is treating the demise of the coach tour specialist as a financial failure, and has confirmed all future package holiday bookings with the brand have been cancelled

Club Med promotes Jemma Bridges to head of trade sales for the UK, Ireland and Nordics

Bridges, who started her career in travel as a Thomas Cook rep, steps up from the role of key account manager

Heathrow claims first after £1 billion security upgrade eases liquid and electronics rules

UK's hub airport becomes largest in the world to fully roll out next-generation CT scanners meaning passengers no longer need to remove liquids or electronics from their hand luggage

Azamara to give more than 250 agents sneak preview of $80 million fleet revamp

Line will host 265 agents in the spring across three seminars at sea and further a masterclass at sea after pledging tens of millions of pounds for fleet investment

Amadeus River Cruises launches 2027 programme early in response to 'increased customer demand'

The European river cruise line has unveiled next year’s programme, which features a brand new ship and additional shore excursions.

Expedition line orders 'next-generation' new-build in first for brand

International sales director Bernie Carter said Atlas Ocean Voyages' first Atlas-class yacht, which will accommodate up to 400 guests with a crew of 275, will 'herald a new era of growth' for the line in the UK market

Air Europe co-founder and low-cost pioneer Errol Cossey passes away aged 82

Air Europe was a blueprint for today's low-cost carriers, proving that lean airlines could compete with legacy brands

Hays Travel named among top UK businesses for customer satisfaction

Hays ranked third in latest UK Customer Satisfaction Index, its first inclusion in the index, with Jet2holidays fifth, up nine places from 14th last January

Spain's Destinia to enter UK market with Travel Republic and Netflights acquisition

New home for former dnata direct-sell brands, which were earmarked for closure last year

'It's always been a dream to have a branch!': Two more Hays Travel franchisees join agency's independence group

CK Travel Trade and We Do Travel, both based in Scotland, have become the newest members of the Hays Travel Independence Group consortium

New wave of Travel Counsellors help put homeworking giant on course for £100 million-plus peaks

The homeworking firm's global revenue averaged £6 million per day last week as total peaks sales, to date, hit £68 million on Sunday (18 January)

National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions appoints Brooke Dunn to newly created trade role

Dunn joins the expedition cruise brand as sales support executive from Fred Holidays where she served as relationship executive for the operator's river cruise brands

Riviera Travel to put next Radiance-class ship on sale next month

Riviera Reflection will go on sale on 18 March ahead of its debut on the Danube in September 2027

Jet2 launches 'smelly' marketing campaign to dispel the blues and boost January sales

The airline operator has launched an 'experiential' marketing campaign for Blue Monday

Deadly rail crash prompts Foreign Office travel warning for southern Spain

'Expect significant disruption' says FCDO after at least 39 killed in collision between two high-speed trains in Cordoba province on Sunday evening (18 January)

Norwegian Cruise Line puts biggest ship yet on sale ahead of 2027 Europe debut

At approximately 344 metres and 169,000 gross tonnes, Norwegian Aura will be able to accommodate 3,840 guests at double occupancy – around 10% more than sisters Norwegian Aqua and Norwegian Luna

Trafalgar adds third river ship to help agents unlock 'longer, higher-value bookings'

Trafalgar Harmonie will sail a new eight-day Seine itinerary – 'designed for travel agents' – that will debut in April 2027

Panache Cruises hires Wendi Hardy as first events and customer loyalty manager

Hardy joins the cruise agency from Scenic and Emerald Cruises and will lead on a new programme of in-person and virtual customer events, as well as Panache's loyalty and VIP experience initiatives