UK and Ireland

Kuoni parent snaps up family-run villa specialist Solmar

Der Touristik UK plans to make Solmar’s 1,600+ villas available to book through all 27 Kuoni stores, and has pledged to grow the brand into ‘the largest villa operator out of the UK’

If Only vows to cut agent call waits further during peaks

The luxury specialist has also sent 200 agent partners printed copies of its new 76-page brochure, its first featuring European beach holidays, ahead of peaks

Nearly a quarter of Brits planning to holiday before Easter this year

23% of UK holidaymakers are planning a holiday between January and April – a boost for agents heading into peaks

Explora Journeys aims first UK wave offer at new-to-cruise passengers

The line’s UK and Ireland managing director Antonio Paradiso said he was ‘hopeful’ the offer would attract ‘a new generation of guests’

Portsmouth port anticipates 155,000 cruise and ferry passengers in 2024

This year 90 ships will call into Portsmouth including Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Star

EasyJet flight almost crashed into another plane after ‘ATC error’

France’s Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) has classified the incident as a ‘serious encounter’

Cruise Plus unveils trade booking incentives in biggest wave campaign ever

Worldwide Sale 2024/25 will feature ocean, luxury, river and expedition cruises as well as an “extensive array” of touring products

Rishi Sunak promises to visit new travel agency 'when next in town'

Sunak wrote to Market Place Travel boss Mark Lomas to express his “great pleasure” after the business opened a store in his constituency

'Most' Hotelplan brands' systems restored following cyberattack

The brands, owned by Hotelplan UK, were hit by IT disruption in early December

Tui launches 'extra thank you' incentives to boost trade sales

The incentives run for five weeks starting from 22 December, with direct communications being sent to agents in the build-up to Christmas

Eurostar to offer extra services until Christmas after strike ends

All Eurostar and drive-on Le Shuttle trains were suspended on Thursday (21 December) after industrial action was announced

Eurostar suspends services and urges passengers not to travel amid flash strike

Eurostar on Thursday (21 December) cancelled seven services between London and Paris after Eurotunnel workers have walked out over salaries

Jet2holidays unveils 'heavyweight' trade-focused peaks campaign with agent offer

From 1 January 2024, Jet2holidays will give travel agents the chance to win one of 100 fam trip places with Jet2holidays

Four issues that could stand in the way of another 'big year' for cruise

Cruise chiefs, speaking at the Clia Forum on Tuesday (19 December), are certain the sector is on the up – but urged agents to be mindful of several issues that could prevent them from the making the most of the rebound

Alfa Travel to launch to Scottish agents after renewed commitment to trade

Alfa Travel will offer competitive commission rates to all agents as well as higher ones to those who book directly through the operator’s website

EasyJet and easyJet holidays launch 'biggest-ever' peaks campaign

Airline and operator will discount more than 1.2 million UK seats heading into the new year, as well as thousands of package holidays

Cruise sales chief steps in to save agent's hen party

Lisa Hagger was struggling to get a plan for her hen do together – that was until she met Oceania Cruises sales director Louise Craddock at the Advantage cruise conference

Cruise 'quickly becoming hottest holiday ticket in town,' says Royal chief

Clia UK and Ireland chair Ben Bouldin laid bare the capacity challenges facing the sector, but predicted a positive year ahead when addressing the cruise body’s annual Forum on Tuesday (19 December)

APT unveils new turn-of-year TV ads with agent call-to-action

The brands confirmed the two TV ads will air across Sky AdSmart and daytime satellite channels from January

APT to expand trade sales team amid ongoing company-wide recruitment drive

The APT and Travelmarvel brands plan to hire a national sales manager to support its key accounts

China Southern boosts London-China connectivity with new Gatwick service

China Southern joins Air China and China Eastern at Gatwick

AmaWaterways unveils wave campaign after bumper sales year

Every suite reservation will also be upgraded to business class flights as part of the campaign, which launches on 26 December.

UK managing director Jamie Loizou said the river line’s latest wave campaign “is designed to appeal to luxury travellers”, adding that offers would make it easier for travel agents to sell its products.

AmaWaterways’ UK team has reported record 2023 booking levels and a 78% spike in the number of UK travel agencies booking its river cruises. Bookings are up 46% versus the same period in 2019.

Abtot joins Advantage and Aito's outbound travel lobby effort

Julia Lo Bue-Said said Abtot’s input would help amplify the industry’s profile at political level

P&O Cruises makes 'largest-ever media investment' ahead of wave season

The line is launching a new campaign called Holiday Like Never Before on 18 December