Topics

'My door is open': Tourism minister Chris Bryant reveals outbound sector opportunity

The MP tells Gary Noakes his role isn’t all about visitors to the UK and reveals how his knowledge of the outbound sector stems from his father, who built a successful coach operation to the Costa Brava.

Carrier to launch exclusive business course for advisors after inaugural summit

The luxury travel company unveiled its plans for 2025 at its first ever summit on Monday.

Virgin Voyages, Carnival Corp, Balkan Holidays: this week's travel trade people moves

People moves this week include a leadership shake-up at Carnival Corp and industry veteran Chris Cundall becoming JTA Travel Group’s new head of UK sales

Jet2 chief pins anti-tourist sentiment on 'unlicensed tourism'

Steve Heapy said demonstrations this summer in places like Majorca, the Canaries and Barcelona were a reaction to ’incompetent and impotent" politicians failing to regulate short-term rentals, not traditional package tourism

British Airways unveils new-look first class seats

The upgraded cabins have been inspired by a luxury hotel and will feature wider and larger seats, personal luggage space and several other luxury amenities.

8 top travel trends agents need to know for 2025

Which destinations are in vogue, how far in advance are consumers booking, and will AI take our jobs: just a few of the discussion points at Abta’s Travel Trends conference.

EasyJet vows to 'strengthen' tour op's customer base following strong results

EasyJet said high easyJet holidays customer satisfaction scores of 84%, with 82% likely to rebook, had helped drive the robust financial performance. It added that future initiatives are ’under way’

Jet2holidays to help homeworkers expand onto the high street during peaks

General manager trade Lloyd Cross has set out the airline and operator’s plans to support agents during peaks, including a new ’Scale up your Street’ push

Flying from Manchester to Beijing and beyond – why book now?

If your clients want an autumn getaway to Asia, Hainan Airlines offers a great option from Manchester that boasts speed, keen pricing and a quality onboard experience

Jet2 adds three new Greek island destinations, plus Tallinn city breaks

Airline and operator confirmed additions to its summer 2025 and 2026 programmes, plus its 2025/26 winter schedule, at its conference in Paphos on Wednesday (27 November)

The crucial issues that fuelled the debate at Airlines 2024

On-stage discussions focused on UK competitiveness, net zero issues, artificial intelligence (AI) and the crucial question of whether Virgin Atlantic would keep a crucial feature of its in-flight experience at the first Airlines 2024 since the new UK government was installed.

Travel agency reveals the ‘risk’ that saved the business as it marks 10th anniversary

The Scotland-based luxury travel agency says it it had hit ’rock bottom’ during Covid-19

Marella boss reveals how line managed to win over third-party agents

Managing director Chris Hackney tells TTG this year has been the best in the line’s history. More than 350,000 passengers have sailed with the Tui-owned line and almost 200 new agents have booked a Marella sailing

Tui agent reveals 2,000th cruise booking celebration plans

Assistant store manager Rachel Liversidge, who has spent 24 years with the travel giant, has sold an average of 75 cruises a year. Yet, she reckons she has only personally sailed on a cruise ship ’five or six’ times

ILTM Cannes 2024 will be ‘biggest to date’ with record numbers

The luxury travel tradeshow anticipates its 2024 edition to be its biggest yet.

Gus Antorcha named Princess Cruises president amid Carnival Corp shake-up

The leadership reshuffle sees Holland America Line president Gus Antorcha replace Princess Cruises boss John Padgett who will leave the cruising giant in February. While Beth Bodensteiner, senior vice-president and chief commercial officer at HAL, will become HAL’s president as well as have executive responsibility of Seabourn

Transport secretary Louise Haigh: 'This govt is not anti-flying'

Transport secretary Louise Haigh backs the aviation industry and airport expansion, telling conference Britain’s growth ’depends on you’

Ambassador pulls remaining 2024 Amsterdam calls due to climate protests

An Ambassador spokesperson told TTG the cruise line will decide whether to return to Amsterdam in 2025 before the end of the year. Climate protestors in the city have repeatedly targeted cruise vessels in 2024 forcing a number of lines to remove Amsterdam from cruise itineraries at short notice

Heathrow boss: 'Airport expansion decision to be made next year'

Heathrow’s chief executive Thomas Woldbye has said a decision on a third runway will be made next year but needs the backing of the industry and government

British Airways expands European network with three new Italy routes

Next summer, the carrier will fly to Rimini from Heathrow, to Salerno from Gatwick and to Sardinian city Olbia from London City airport.

Virgin Atlantic chief opens door to a return to Gatwick

’Gatwick is our historic home – we’d love to go back when the time and the opportunity is right," Shai Weiss told the Airlines UK conference

How Travel Counsellors plans to become 'a £2 billion business within seven years'

CEO Steve Byrne told the 2,000-plus audience at the annual Travel Counsellors that caring for customers and leading technology would remain key

Blue Lagoon to review latest volcano closure later this week

The famous geothermal spa will ’reassess’ the situation on Thursday (28 November) southwest Iceland experiencing its 10th eruption in three years

Travel urged to seek new allies in Westminster and not 'give up' on government

The former chair of parliament’s transport committee told Aito conference delegates to engage with the ’raft of new MPs’ in Westminster to seek new allies for the industry