Travel industry news

'As AI search becomes the norm, agents must use it to strengthen their claim to being the experts'

As Google doubles down on AI-first search, agents must endure short-term disruption for longer-term gain writes Propellic’s Brennen Bliss for TTG, in the knowledge those who embrace AI as a research assistant rather than resist it altogether stand to strengthen their value and relevance to their clients

RSPCA leads renewed calls for Tui to stop selling captive animal attractions

The RSPCA has also pointed out there is a law in England and Wales forbidding brands selling exploitative excursions which has never been implemented

Hays Travel ready to go all-in on cruise with bookable website following Cruise.co.uk deal

Dame Irene Hays added the agency giant remained in an acquisitive mood should any suitable opportunities emerge

Hays Travel acquires Cruise.co.uk to expand into online cruise market

Hays hails deal as its biggest since acquiring Thomas Cook in 2019

Growth in pay for 'standard' travel jobs failing to keep pace with higher earning roles

’Wages for these positions need to at least match the rate of inflation or our industry risks missing out on top graduates who could otherwise have a long and fulfilling career within travel,’ warns C&M Travel Recruitment chief Barbara Kolosinska

Travel Chaps owners joined by new staff and supplier reps for official shop opening

Matt and Ashley Phillips, whose background is in hospitality, joined the travel industry during the pandemic, setting up their agency with Not Just Travel

Turkey Tourism: 'Agents' knowledge of the range of options Turkey offers is crucial to us'

Turkey’s efforts to extend the summer season and shift the spotlight onto lesser-known destinations is bearing fruit, and agents stand to benefit, Turkey’s tourism lead tells TTG’s Gary Noakes

Titan Travel hires Virgin Voyages' Andrea Jones as trade team expansion continues

Senior sales manager role Jones will manage a range of strategic accounts across the UK ’to drive deeper relationships and forge mutually beneficial business growth plans’

'We can move forward': Baldwins Travel's Tricia Lester joins Ashdown Travel along with nine colleagues

Surrey agency Ashdown Travel approached Lester on LinkedIn ’a couple of months ago’ before revealing plans to add two branches and recruit more staff

Top Villas appoints Rachel Bramley to support agents in deepening trade push

Following her appointment, Bramley revealed how Top Villas plans to ’offer the kind of hands-on, responsive support that travel agents and tour operators really value’

Halstead Travel owner's video interviews see her win funding for first retail shop

Arline Sloan will launch Halstead Travel on the high street in September for the first time, eight years after setting up the homeworking brand

Agents warn 'out of hand' resort fees are putting clients off visiting the US

One agent told TTG she had to stump up an extra $700 in fees during a 16-night itinerary

Natasha Marson: 'We're quirky, there's a bit of sass in there – that resonates well with the trade'

EasyJet holidays’ head of trade distribution talks TTG’s James Chapple through her mission to engage the trade with sassy activity, produce better tools for agents and forge ever-stronger ties with homeworkers, as well as the memories she still draws on for inspiration

Deal for Ireland's Grogan Travel to end 75 years of family ownership

Managing director Frances Grogan told TTG that while it was tough to sell up after 75 years, she felt new owner Frosch Ireland shared many of her agency’s values

EasyJet puts nearly 30 million seats on sale for summer 2026

The peak summer programme features 87,000 flights from the UK to destinations in Europe, North Africa and beyond

Heathrow to submit third runway plan next week as profits near £1 billion

Heathrow airport has said it will submit plans for a third runway to the government by the end of July and detailed half-year results, with a small increase in the number of passengers in the financial period

Dame Irene Hays recognised for business achievements and public service

Owner and chair of Hays Travel has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bradford

Loveholidays rapped by advertising watchdog over misleading package pricing

OTA told two of its ads were misleading due to dynamic pricing that meant advertised prices were not available to consumers

October launch date for new EU border rules risks half-term disruption, agents warned

Advantage has warned of possible October half-term bottlenecks at airports as the EU prepares to roll out biometric and fingerprint registration this autumn

Tui launches Lapland day trip programme and Santa packages from 11 UK airports

Tui has included Cardiff airport for the first time in a programme of Lapland day trips this winter, with the first Bournemouth getting its first departures for seven years

EU confirms October start date for new biometric border rules and Etias visa waiver price hike

Long-delayed EU Entry-Exit System will finally start on 12 October, while the upcoming Etias visa waiver has almost tripled in price from €7 (£6) to €20 (£17)

Irish agents hail return to ‘common sense’ pricing despite lingering Trump tariff worries

Ireland’s close links with the US are among a number of factors influencing how travel is selling in the republic this summer – TTG’s Gary Noakes gauges the mood among agents

Thomas Cook steps up UK market presence with launch of new mobile app

Cook, which was reborn during the pandemic as an OTA before being acquired by Poland’s eSky Group last year, is offering a ’lowest price guarantee’ on packages

Ryan Readman joins Newmarket Holidays as newest account manager

Readman joins Newmarket from Ambassador Cruise Line, replacing Freya Sutcliffe following her more to agency Inspire Europe, and will look after agents in the North West and Isle of Man