Opinion

Princess targeting 'evolution not revolution' of its winning formula with Sun Princess

TTG joined a second shipyard tour of the first ship in Princess’s new Sphere-class this week to see how the built is coming along ahead of Sun Princess’s scheduled launch in February

'Travel trends for 2024, and how agents can make the most of them'

Discover some of the key trends for 2024, and how you can apply them to your business

‘Agents swayed by AI must remember to keep a firm hand on the wheel’

Generative AI opens vistas of opportunity for travel marketers and agents, but caution must be taken before rushing into adopting technology just because others are, writes We Are Llama’s Mags Sikora for TTG

'Travel isn't yet as universally accessible as it aspires to be'

Two people with lived experience of deafness reflect on Tui’s introduction of British Sign Language, and how the industry still has some way to go to make good on its accessibility pledges

The Homeworker: 'Three simple steps that helped me be a better agent'

’Weaving sustainable practices into your homeworking business is a journey that once you start, you will never end,’ writes Travel Counsellor Marie Rowe for TTG’s latest homeworking column

'Nothing has changed in our industry – we're still cowboys at heart'

Sunvil chair Noel Josephides writes for TTG on the huge rebound in Atol authorisations for 2023/24, and the tactics major players in the market are using to sell their allocations – and squeeze every penny from travellers

'What I learned from my very own Race Across The World (*Europe)'

Sunvil’s Chris Wright recounts to TTG his flight-free journey from the Travel Industry Awards in London to Crete; complete with moments of self-doubt and a sleep deprived mini-meltdown, he made it – and is urging others to give overland a go

The future (of travel) is bright – but is the future orange?

EasyJet’s new ambition to make £1 billion in profits and its return to paying dividends to shareholders next year confirms the budget airline sector’s health to analysts, writes Gary Noakes for TTG

Why ‘uncool’ email still has a vital place in agents’ marketing arsenal

Most dismiss email marketing as ‘dated’, but it is still pivotal for building an emotional connection with customers, We Are Llama’s Lisa Edwards-Webb writes for TTG

Why summer 2024 looks set to be the most competitive for years

Jet2, Tui and easyJet holidays are all set for major expansion next summer, and will face competition from the OTA sector

'I’ve witnessed the progress travel has made on DEI, but I’ve also seen where it falls short'

After National Inclusion Week, we head into Black History Month – a time for reflection and action within the travel and tourism industry, writes Communicate Inclusively’s Atlyn Forde for TTG

'They say the lates market is back, but as ever – the devil is in the detail'

’This summer’s spike in last-minute was encouraging news for the trade, but as always, it’s important to look beyond the headline numbers,’ writes Adido chief Andy Headington for TTG

'Less is more': how agents can make the most of whatever time they can dedicate to social media

’When it comes to how to approach social media, there are as many opinions as there are marketers – here’s how to cut through them,’ write We Are Llama’s Marta Safin for TTG

Abta: 'The mood music is changing in Westminster when it comes to travel'

’There is growing recognition of the mutual benefits of travel and tourism to the UK economy,’ writes Abta director of public affairs, Luke Petherbridge, for TTG

The Homeworker: 'I sometimes miss the thrill of making £25k bookings in my pyjamas'

’The home-based agent community has fully embraced the Brave New World in which we now live – and it feels like a levelling-up of opportunity,’ writes Travel Counsellor Jo Shayler-Tarrant for TTG’s latest homeworking column

‘In Rhodes, there is defiance – they won't be beaten by these wildfires’

‘One image that will remain with me is the burned out shell of a taverna, the Angelaki, but having seen how tough – and generous – the islanders are, I’d put money on them being back in time for next year’

Why it's time to spring clean your marketing... in August

Don’t leave it late, marketing chief Andrew Shelton urges agents in second We Are Llama column for TTG – or risk not being ready for the rush

'Chargebacks are here to stay; agents must learn to manage them'

’What started as a method of obtaining a cash refund appears to become muscle memory for travellers seeking a quick and easy way to get their cash back without going through traditional processes,’ writes Outpayce’s Tania Platt for TTG

The Homeworker: 'I took a leap of faith, and never looked back'

’It’s not always easy to get out of your comfort zone, but be brave – sometimes it’s the only way to grow,’ writes Designer Travel associate Angela Mayall for TTG

'It's time to focus on experience and break down people's preconceptions'

’The trick is de-categorise this industry sector and to instead focus on understanding the experience and its benefits in a holistic way,’ writes Uniworld MD Chris Townson for TTG

Will Threads pull everything together – or unravel your social media strategy?

Travel comms specialist Phil Bloomfield runs the rule over Facebook owner Meta’s Twitter clone – and explores the opportunities and pitfalls for agents wondering about whether to adopt another social media platform

The Homeworker: ‘The web failed to kill off agents, and AI won't either’

“I wasn’t worried when I read AI ‘will eat the travel industry’ alive,” writes Co-op PTA Matthew Ruth for TTG. “Be an early adopter – find a way to use AI to create a unique proposition.’

Why the Thomas Cook brand could flourish anew in the era of AI

Cook is travel’s ultimate legacy brand; a canny investor should utilise new technologies like AI to leverage Cook’s enduring, writes Steve Endacott for TTG

Why the Pacific Asia region's inclusivity is the pride of Pata

To mark Pride month, Pata chair UK and Ireland Chris Crampton reflects on the Pacific Asia region’s LGBTQ+ credentials – and how and why progress has been achieved