Travel industry news

Wiltshire agency Howard Travel left to foot £250 bill after 'drunk revellers' smash window

Branch manager Colin Curtis told TTG other businesses in Trowbridge had their windows damaged over new year, and confirmed Howard Travel had previously been targeted

Inspire Europe to donate 1% of peaks profits to supporting dementia care

Cheshire-based agency launches its first-ever ’giving back’ campaign

New Orleans 'will not be deterred' by 'horrific' new year's attack

Fifteen people were killed and at least 35 others injured after a man drove a truck into a large crowd in the Louisiana city in the early hours of New Year’s Day

Foreign Office sets up New Orleans helpline after 'IS-inspired' attack kills 15

British nationals affected by attack urged to get in touch after car driven into crowds celebrating new year in city’s popular French Quarter

'He made me belly laugh from start to finish': Hays Travel PTCs remember 'kind soul' Jon Berridge

Berridge suffered ’a sudden unexpected cardiac event’ on 23 December just a few weeks after telling delegates at Hays Travel’s conference in Turkey about his career change last year

Heavy snow and freezing temperatures prompt three-day weather warning over 'Sunshine Saturday'

The warning takes effect from midday on Saturday (4 January)

Spending with travel agents increased by 8% in 2024 – Barclays

Spending with agents up by nearly 8% year-on-year, albeit down from a more than 10% jump in 2023

'It's a great alternative to a city break': behind the scenes on the TTG Riviera Fest fam

Join a group of lucky agents on Riviera Travel’s Burgundy, The River Rhone and Provence sailing onboard the Lord Byron, and discover their highlights and key selling tips

Outbound demand to increase in 2025 as holidays 'remain a priority'

More than 40% of consumers (41%) are set to take an overseas holiday of five days or longer in 2025, up from 35% last year

New Year Honours for Abta destinations chief and responsible tourism pioneer

Abta’s head of destinations Angie Hills made MBE in the King’s New Year Honours, with Responsible Travel founder Justin Francis awarded OBE

Five travel marketing trends agents can act on right now in time for 2025

Be authentic, be strategic, be frequent (but not too frequent) and keep it real – the herd over at travel marketing collective We Are Llama have shared with TTG their top tips to make your marketing sing next year

Fog clears across UK but Gatwick flights still axed to avoid last-minute disruption

The airport told TTG 24 flights had been axed in advance of Monday (30 December) to avoid last-minute cancellations and allow aircraft to be repositioned to get operations back running smoothly

Jet2 boss Steve Heapy expects strong Christmas demand to continue into new year

The UK’s largest tour operator launched a sale on Christmas Eve offering holidaymakers £90 per person off all departures up to 15 November 2026 as well as £100 off per person for customers with a myJet2 account

South Korea launches 'comprehensive' aircraft inspection after Jeju Air crash

The country is in a state of mourning after a Jeju Air plane flying from Bangkok, Thailand, crash-landed on Sunday (30 December), killing all the passengers on board

Gold Medal to launch annual Holiday Sale

As part of the campaign, agents who package a Gold Medal holiday will have the chance to win £1,000 a week for two months by registering their bookings

Tui reports footfall surge following Scottish store reopening

The shop reopened on 6 December in the Scottish town of Kilbride, around 11 miles south of Glasgow

Gatwick to cut delays with ground operations 'smart' system

The ‘smart stand’ project was developed with easyJet’s support and is expected to run until the summer

Thorne Travel launches first-ever TV advert ahead of peaks

Ayrshire agency debuts 30-second short in Boxing Day featuring Kilwinning store manager Christiane McCorgray

'There's so much opportunity out there for agents heading into 2025'

There are plenty of reasons for the trade to look ahead to 2025 with confident, agents tell TTG, while research from Abta also underlines how agents’ stock is rising among consumers

Agent reveals ambition to grow shop network to 10 by his 40th birthday

JF Travel owner Jonny Fielding has told TTG he wants to open a new shop every year for the next seven years to grow his network to 10 by the time he turns 40

Tui pushes app sales as it goes up against Jet2 and easyJet with peaks offers

Tui has opened its peaks offers via its app – three days before putting them on sale through the trade – while Jet2holidays has also detailed its turn of year discounts

'Rest assured, South Korea is still a dynamic, delicious – and very safe – destination'

Travel writer, university lecturer and street food guide Chris Tharp, who has made South Korea his home for the past 20 years, is InsideAsia’s Busan insider. After recent events in the country made headline news around the world, Chris tells TTG why agents and their clients have nothing to worry about

First Choice boss Bart Quinton Smith takes over as Tui UK and Ireland sales director

TTG 30 Under 30 alumnus Quinton Smith takes over Neil Swanson, who was promoted to the role of Tui UK and Ireland managing director in October following Andrew Flintham’s departure

Welsh agency Sam Smith Travel to expand to third premises next year

Ocky White Travel owner Mark White, who acquired the Sam Smith brand during the pandemic, talks TTG through the next steps for the revitalised agency