Travel industry news

What's happened to the family market this year? And will it come back?

The family market has long been a staple for many travel agencies, but a drop off in forward bookings for the summer from families has left agents stumped – and concerned

Lorraine Adams stands down as Sandals and Beaches BDM after nearly 25 years

’Lorraine dedicated almost 25 years to our brands and we’re incredibly grateful for her hard work, determination and fun vibrant personality," said Sandals and Beaches UK sales and marketing representative Unique Vacations

European ministers agree phased approach to new biometric border rules

The European Commission said the EES will be rolled out over a six-month period to avoid teething problems, but has not set a new date for the launch

La Vida Travel named UK and Ireland's best agency at TTG Top 50 as Designer Travel also wins big

Newport independent La Vida claims top prize after third successive year as Wales’s Top Agency, while Designer walk away from the glittering ceremony with five Top 50 places

How Wales's top agency La Vida Travel achieved TTG Top 50 stardom

Newport’s La Vida Travel has been named Top 50 Travel Agencies by TTG’s new Top Agency UK and Ireland; TTG’s Madeleine Barber finds out what makes this well-established Welsh agency such a force to be reckoned with

UK and EU ready to make concessions to establish youth mobility framework

UK government no longer ruling out an agreement with EU on youth mobility

Operators target Balkan Holidays customers affected by UK closure

The specialist tour operator on Thursday (24 April) announced it was closing down its UK operation on Thursday after nearly 60 years

Balkan Holidays ceases trading in the UK after nearly 60 years

All forward holiday bookings with the specialist have been cancelled

Debbie O'Neill: ‘The first thing I wanted to do as Jules Verne MD was bring the brand to the trade’

O’Neill talks evoking nostalgia and placing importance on both the destination and the journey with TTG’s Gary Noakes

Jet2 finally puts new Jet2Weddings brand on sale through agents

Jet2Weddings was launched as a direct brand late last year and is now available to agents to offer their clients

New Jetline owner weighing up whether to retain brand after acquiring assets

Travelodeal has acquired assets belonging to Jetline Holidays and Jetline Cruise parent Jetline Travel went after the brand ceased trading as an Atol holder in March and went into administration

Second TTG Riviera Fest to focus on touring and offer Morocco fam trip

TTG Riviera Fest will return for its second year from 9-13 June with panel discussions, masterclasses and training focusing on the operator’s European and worldwide escorted tours.

‘We were on the verge of complete meltdown’: Branson tears into Trump's tariff war

’He [Trump] is in danger of doing so much damage in the world,’ said Virgin Atlantic chair Sir Richard Branson as the carrier touched down in Riyadh for the first time

'She guided with grace and mentored with kindness': Solmar Villas MD Julie Blake passes aged 47

Tributes paid to villa specialist’s ‘passionate, funny and kind’ leader Blake following her death on Thursday (17 April)

Heathrow hopeful of having third runway up and running by 2035

Airport working ’at pace’ to deliver expansion plans to government by he summer

South Korea's Seoul to join Virgin Atlantic's network next spring

Daily Heathrow-Seoul service to go on sale on 14 May with first flights departing in late-March 2026

Classic Collection adds Luxor, Tangier and Tromso plus more than 600 new hotels

Operator expands online booking portfolio available to agents with new destinations and more hotels in Agadir, Sicily, Malaga, Montenegro and Bulgaria

Agents 'absolutely key' as Houston ramps up sport and Michelin food focus

The secret to growing its visitor numbers? Business travellers returning to this destination as leisure travellers

Fam trip boosts agency's Lapland sales – and inspires agent to lead her own trip

The homeworker who returned from a three-night fam trip to Lapland – and decided to lead her own group tour

Search for the next TTG 30 Under 30 under way

The scheme, now into its 13th year, is looking for applicants and nominees from across the industry

Corendon Airlines eyes Egypt and senses opportunities in UK regions

Six months into his role at the Turkish carrier’s UK country manager, Matthew Carpenter sets out his vision for growing into the UK market – in partnership with travel agents

Easter strike by Tenerife hotel workers prompts Foreign Office warning

Hotel and hospitality workers in Santa Cruz province start two-day walkout

Audley Travel £600 million sale 'postponed' amid market turmoil

Owner 3i’s plans to sell Audley Travel have reportedly been put on hold

Travelpack, Explora Journeys, Intrepid: all the latest travel trade people moves

Ex-Global exec Bond returns with a new trade-focused accommodation platform, while Travelpack has made a key hire it hopes will boost its cruise business