Essential

Tui promotes Jill Cunningham to lead on third-party and retail sales

Cunningham joined Tui, then Thomson, in 2003 as a holiday rep in Greece and has held a variety of roles since then, including spells as a business development manager and as commercial relations general manager

Tens of thousands to benefit from scheme incentivising people to opt out of hotel housekeeping

Just a Drop has detailed the success of a project with Park Plaza Hotel Group where guests opt out of housekeeping and donate in return for incentives, including restaurant vouchers

Advantage praises 'remarkable' members for driving record results despite 'challenging' environment

The consortium’s transactional turnover increased significantly to £155 million, up from £116 million, during its 2023/24 financial year, with more than 50 new branches joining the group during this period

Attraction World names new chief with bosses Nicholls and Mahoney set to depart

Attraction World Group has named Joe Hyland as new chief executive after the former post holder and chief commercial officer leave the business, with both remaining tight-lipped about their future plans

Marella Cruises details return to Tunisia in winter 2026/27 programme

Tui’s UK cruise brand is to return to Tunisia after an absence of more than 10 years in the 2026/27 season, with several new ports also confirmed by Marella Cruises

Jules Verne to target 'Queenager' market with new touring partnership

Jules Verne has teamed up with NOON, the online community for women over 45 to offer tours targeted at this age group, saying there is a gap in the market and encouraging other operators to consider it

Delta Air Lines boss hints at Birmingham link with 'great market' comment

Ed Bastian tells The Sunday Times ’there’s a great market out of Birmingham’

P&O Cruises launches winter 2025/26 Caribbean charter programme

Services will operate between November 2025 and March 2026 from a variety of UK departure points, including London, Edinburgh and Newcastle

Tui stalwart of more than 25 years Belinda Vazquez to leave the business

Tui’s director of customer sales and service, who joined the business more than 25 years ago as a trading assistant, to ’pursue a fresh challenge’

EasyJet to open three-aircraft base at Newcastle airport next year

It follows easyJet’s Southend and Birmingham base launches in recent years

Carnival Cruise Line's Danielle Kerton joins Riviera Travel's growing trade team

Kerton spent six years at the Carnival Corporation brand before leaving once the line’s UK office closed in the middle of May 2025

Harry Styles' mum joins Typically Holidays as a brand ambassador

Harry Styles’ Anne Twist and influencer Charlene Evans were introduced to Daniele Broccoli by Manchester-based agency owner Travelista, Rebecca Murphy

Three Baldwins Travel shops put up for sale by receivers as efforts to secure jobs continue

Three Baldwins Travel shops in Kent have gone up for sale after receivers were called in to dispose of the assets of the troubled agency chain following the loss of its Iata licence and Abta membership

Aer Lingus to launch new winter sun route to Mexico's Cancun in the new year

Aer Lingus is to begin flights to Cancun early next year as the country marks 50 years of diplomatic relations with Mexico

Spain orders closure of 65,000 holiday lets as overtourism protests continue

Spain has ordered 65,000 Airbnb properties to close due to licensing breaches after saying the country had too many holiday lets and not enough rental accommodation for local populations

Industry welcomes new UK-EU agreements on e-gates and youth mobility

Tui said the new ’youth experience’ regime ’could open up hundreds of exciting seasonal overseas job opportunities with Tui for young Brits’

Hurtigruten hands UK chief Iain Powell second promotion 15 months after joining line

Line said the chief commercial officer role will ’therefore be key to creating even greater value for guests and partners around the world’

MSC Cruises inks deal with shipbuilding firm to expand World Class fleet

The ocean line will launch World Class 5 and 6 in 2029 and 2030 once they’ve been built

Ugandan capital Entebbe joins Gatwick's long-haul route network

Uganda Airlines will operate the route four times a week on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays

UK pushing for deal on EU passport e-gate access to cut airport wait times

Move comes as UK seeks new post-Brexit deal with the EU

‘Fail fast, put people first and never tolerate poor service’: industry leaders share the values steering their businesses

Kuoni’s Mark Duguid, easyJet holidays’ Paul Bixby and Princess Cruises’ Eithne Williamson joined a panel discussion at the Advantage conference to share the values that drive their teams

Adore Holidays boss hints at further retail expansion after buying travel firm

The Essex agency has completed its second acquisition in the space of two months, buying Online Travel Group and its associated brands, including ski specialist Get Skiing

Advantage records five-fold £550 million increase in annual turnover

The consortium welcomed more than 50 new branches to its network during its 2023/24 financial year, who contributed to a £550 million increase in annual turnover, up from an increase of £100 million in the previous year

Agents consistently resolving nearly 90% of clients’ travel difficulties, says Advantage

’After years of uncertainty, travellers want peace of mind – and that’s exactly what the travel agent provides,’ said Advantage Travel Partnership chief executive Julia Lo Bue-Said