The review: Industry

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Industry sees UsA surge

News that fully vaccinated UK travellers will be able to return to the US, which has been closed since March 2020, has boosted consumer confidence, says the travel industry.

From November 8, travellers will have to provide proof of vaccination and present proof of a negative Covid test taken within three days of departure.

Since the announcement, airlines have seen “bookings rocket” with Virgin Atlantic reporting a 600% increase. The airline said that New York had the most bookings of any US city, with “Orlando flights up 11 fold, Miami 9 fold and Las Vegas 8 fold.”

ABTA spoke of hopes for a winter bookings peak, saying: “The USA is by far our most popular long haul destination and in a normal year attracts almost five million visitors from the UK. The announcement has come in time to allow people to take the ever popular Christmas shopping trips to New York and is a very welcome boost for the winter sports market whose customers love the country’s high quality ski resorts.”

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, added: “WTTC strongly advocates for fully vaccinated travellers to be able to travel freely and safely, and for unvaccinated travellers to be able to do so with testing, and enhanced health and safety protocols.”

Joanne Dooey, president of The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA), the professional body for travel agents and the travel sector in Scotland, said: “America is one of the most significant markets for Scottish travel agents, so news that double vaccinated Scots will soon be able to travel to the USA once again to visit friends and family and for holidays is a huge boost.”

Steve Norris, MD of EMEA for Flight Centre believes this to be a huge turning point for the travel industry. He said: “Pre-Covid, 15% of Flight Centre’s annual bookings were to the US, and have our agents prepped and ready to help Brits cross the pond for the first time in 18-months.”

Kuoni expands in europe

Kuoni, known for luxury long-haul trips to destinations such as the Maldives, Caribbean and Thailand, is turning its focus to Europe by launching its biggest range of luxury short-haul holidays - expanding into regions it has never previously sold. The move is designed to strengthen Kuoni’s position for special occasion travel around the world, particularly honeymoons.

Around 30% of all Kuoni’s bookings for 2022 are for honeymoons, with lots of couples re-booking after cancelled wedding plans resulting from lockdown restrictions. As a result, the operator says the average honeymoon booking value has risen by 13% from £7,985 in 2019 to £9,045 for 2022. Multi-centre coast, culture and countryside itineraries in Europe with private transfers or car hire in between locations, is something Kuoni plans to step up, moving beyond holidays which are just fly and flop. In Italy, Kuoni has introduced 12 new hotels, with new options in Tuscany including Siena for the first time, one of Italy’s bestpreserved medieval towns. Other Tuscan retreats have also been chosen to offer off-the-beaten-track experiences from truffle hunting to cookery classes, to create holidays with a blend of city culture and authentic Italian lifestyle. A further 31 hotels feature in other destinations throughout the Mediterranean. kuoni.co.uk Trade talk the review / 49

NEWS IN BRIEF

• Canada to Connect agents

Destination Canada and its key industry partners will join forces to host a special ‘fast track’ event for agents on November 23. Called ‘Canada Connect’, the event will also see the launch of Destination Canada’s refreshed Canada Specialist Program (CSP). Running from 14.00 to 19.00, the interactive format will offer agents the chance to win some great prizes - and take an event selfie. canadaspecialists.co.uk

• Caman ends restrictions

The Cayman Islands will allow vaccinated travellers who are securely verified to enter without quarantine from November 20. This will mark phase four of the Caribbean island’s reopening programme. visitcaymanislands.com

• Aer Lingus gets direct

Aer Lingus’ Manchester to Barbados flight signals the start of the airline’s first ever non-stop transatlantic connections from the UK. Travellers can now enjoy three weekly flights to Barbados from Manchester until the end of April. From December 1, Aer Lingus will begin operating its first non-stop direct flights from Manchester to New York’s JFK airport. aerlingus.com

• Qatar’s Doha package

Qatar Airways has launched a new stopover package offering up to a four night stay in Doha. Starting at $14 (approximately £10)pp per night, travellers can stay in a selection of four-star and five-star hotels. qatarairways.com

MEET... Mary Quinn Ramer President Lexington CVB (VisitLEX)

Equine Kentucky

Explain Kentucky’s link to equine?

Central Kentucky grows strong, fast, powerful horses from the ground up thanks to a limestone shelf that sits just under the surface of the land. This added calcium is the perfect fuel for growing racehorses. The countryside surrounding Lexington features more than 450 horse farms and is where champion horses are bred, born, raised, trained, bought, sold and retired!

Can visitors see the horses in action?

Equine competition is found in Lexington throughout the year, however April and October offer live thoroughbred racing at Keeneland Racecourse. Visitors and locals alike enjoy celebrating the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, which offers the chance to watch and wager on the races, enjoy delicious cuisine, and taste a mint julep while showing off the best in Derby fashion. Book a table in one of the dining rooms, secure reserved grandstand seats, or purchase general admission tickets - just be sure to do it in advance!

Can the public get close to the horses?

Horse Country, Inc. offers tours throughout the year from nursery farms to stallion complexes to equine hospitals. Visitors can also saddle up on a horseback riding adventure, visit the International Museum of the Horse and watch the Parade of Breeds show at the Kentucky Horse Park. Each spring, it hosts a three-day Land Rover Kentucky event, attracting competitors from across the world. visithorsecountry.com

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newmarket tour sale

Newmarket Holidays has announced a new campaign for 2022 to coincide with the simplification of travel and testing rules.

Clients can now receive up to a 10% discount on Newmarket Holidays’ European and Worldwide tours, departing in 2022. The 10% saving is for holidays and tours departing from January 1 to June 30, 2022, and a 5% saving from July 1 to December 31, 2022.

Richard Forde, Head of Trade Sales, said: “With consumer confidence returning, we felt now was the perfect time to launch this offer which should help agents capitalise on demand and close sales with substantial discounts for 2022. Many customers are feeling confident to commit to 2022 plans but they still want to get value for money.” newmarketholidays.co.uk

Intrepid bikes UsA

Intrepid Travel has added to its range of US cycling holidays. Four cycling tours have been added in Utah’s Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, Maine and Acadia National Park, Washington’s San Juan Islands and California’s Sonoma and the Napa Valley.

The following six-day USA tours depart from April 2022: Cycle Sonoma and the Napa Valley from £1,765pp; Cycle Utah: Bryce and Zion National Parks from £1,765pp; Cycle Maine and Acadia National Park from £1,815pp, and Cycle Washington’s San Juan Islands from £1,765pp. Expanding its range of cycling holidays is part of Intrepid’s efforts to decarbonise its trips. intrepidtravel.com

news

ABTA calls for grants

ABTA has urged the travel industry to persist in applying for as much as £300m in unspent Additional Restrictions Grant funding.

Travel agents in England are eligible to apply, and many have been successful in securing funding during the pandemic. Business owners should get in touch with their local council in a bid to secure funding for their company.

There are no restrictions on the number of grants a business can receive, with Government advice encouraging local authorities to focus support on ‘those sectors that remain closed or are severely impacted by the extended restrictions, even if those businesses have already been in receipt of Restart Grants.’

Luke Petherbridge, ABTA’s Director of Public Affairs, said: “While the relaxation of a number of restrictions means that things are starting to look up for international travel – the majority of our Members have been starved of cash over the last 18 months. Which is why we are urging them to pursue the Additional Restrictions Grant funding.“ abta.com

Thailand reopens

Fully vaccinated UK travellers can now visit Thailand without quarantine restrictions.

According to the tourism arm of the Thai Government - nearly one million UK tourists visited Thailand in 2019 - generating an estimated £1.5 billion - but that dropped to just over 220,000 in 2020, and declined further to just thousands in 2021.

Yuthasak Supasorn, CEO of Tourism Authority of Thailand said: “We’ve spent this period of down time preparing for international tourism restarting. Since July 2021 our Sandbox program paved the way for a safe, controlled, measured return which has led to us, as of today, confidently re-opening to 46 countries without quarantine restrictions.” tourismthailand.org