Opinion

Cause for optimism in travel despite Brexit uncertainty

A month on from the new-look WTM London 2018 and I am still blown away by the vibrancy, energy and ideas at the event

'Working hand-in-hand with AI will help travel prosper'

Earlier this month, London’s ExCeL hosted World Travel Market. Many of us love to hate running the annual gauntlet of meetings, business updates and catch-ups with industry peers...

Pushing the focus off the beaten track

As anyone familiar with World Travel Market London will know, the event is a brilliant explosion of the different cultures and destinations on offer around the globe, and a celebration of how travel can be a force for good in opening minds

Helping clients to a new perspective

If I was to talk to you about “transformative travel”, you might think I was about to ask you to join a cult...

Primera collapse must be the last airline insolvency to hit consumers

While the impact of Primera Air’s demise this week was, thankfully, less catastrophic than that of Monarch, the Airline Insolvency Review must ensure this time is the last time consumers are left out of pocket

Long-term loyalty or instant gratification?

One presumes the marketing agency that came up with Sainsbury’s original Nectar card scheme hoped ‘nectar’ implied a nice sweet treat for being loyal

'Chaotic no-deal Brexit would be disastrous for our industry'

Earlier this month, the government published contingency guidance for a no-deal Brexit. No deal would fundamentally change how Britain interacts with the rest of Europe

Why travel must learn to celebrate wins - and move on from losses

Selling is the most difficult, most important and most rewarding job in travel says Travel Counsellors’ Steve Byrne

Hot weather and football success - but nothing put people off their holidays

And what was of particular interest is where Brits were travelling this summer. Because, significantly, it wasn’t the usual hotspots of recent years...

How a simple promise will help inspire the next generation of travel leaders

Jo Rzymowska, vice-president and managing director Celebrity Cruises UK and Ireland and Asia, on why it’s vital to help inspire the next generation of travel leaders

Changing marketplace will put our industry to the test

“Lates market – what lates market?” you may well ask.

Brexit: Will the industry be ready for departure day?

Two years after the country voted for Brexit, TTG speaks to five key figures in the travel industry to see how they rate the government’s progress so far – and what still remains to be done if a smooth exit is going to be achieved come March 2019

Jerry Springer’s take on travel and Trump

Next week Advantage members will travel to Miami for the consortium’s conference, where TV legend Jerry Springer will join as keynote speaker. He talks to TTG about his love of agents, the Cunard sailing that brought him to the US and why he won’t be running against Trump in 2020

‘We are enormously proud of our Future You initiative’

One of the things I love most about working in travel and tourism is the shared passion we all have for this wonderful industry

Leader: Starting the conversation

When I was younger, my gran tried to explain the concept of modern art. The art was not in the abstract squiggles on the canvas but in the fact that we were talking about it

'Our industry must be kept up to speed on Brexit talks'

We have just taken another step along the long road to Brexit. The 27 EU leaders recently agreed a transition period to the end of 2020. This means that, even though we leave the EU next March, there will be no changes for another 21 months

Steven Freudmann: ‘Town centres must become communal experiences’

Does anyone remember the Portas Review? Mary Portas was a keynote speaker at ITT’s conference in Malta in 2014. Three years earlier she had published a review of Britain’s high streets

Why it’s crucial to invest in your ‘on the road heroes’

To all you on the road heroes travelling the length and breadth of the country account managing and representing, I tip my hat to you in respect

Brexit: 'What could possibly go wrong?'

“We want to go to Europe on holiday, and Europe wants to welcome us,” Abta chief executive Mark Tanzer wryly pointed out this week. “What could possibly go wrong?”

A self-confessed businessman, playboy and villain... well-loved by the industry

"A true entrepreneur” and a “real giant, pioneer and trailblazer”. These were just some of the words used to describe industry icon Harry Goodman, who passed away this week at the age of 79.

Travel must place top-notch service front and centre

Since joining the Gold Medal and Travel 2 team two months ago, I’ve been focused on understanding every aspect of the business

Agents came through for clients during cold snap

"The biggest travel disruption since the ash cloud”. That’s how some agents described the impact of last week’s mayhem, caused by the “Beast from the East”.

Leader: States of emergency

When you hear that a “state of emergency” has been enforced in a holiday destination, it’s hard not to imagine fearful tourists holed up in their hotel rooms, with violent chaos unfolding outside

Comment: Agents in demand as the interest rate rise sinks in

Well it finally happened. Just over three months ago the much-predicted interest rate increase happened. With things having settled down somewhat, now we can take a considered look at what effect the increase is having on the consumer and the travel industry