Sunny spell turns up the heat on trade

It feels like only last week that the thought of heading outside without a coat and umbrella seemed unthinkable.

While the scorching temperatures across the UK this week will be welcomed by many up and down the country, those in the outbound industry will be less enthused by the sustained period of clear blue skies as we head further into lates.

The good spell of weather isn’t the only thing agents and operators are having to contend with as they attempt to fill the remaining capacity for the year ahead, with overtourism protests across Europe and the intensifying situation in the Middle East acting as stark reminders – not that they were needed – that this summer is unlikely to be a smooth ride for many.

A destination that appears to be holding firm is the US, with visitor numbers ahead of 2024, but as we report this week, industry figures paint a rather more mixed picture of trading and the outlook for the States.

Last week was particularly memorable for some in the industry and I was delighted to learn that Julia Lo Bue-Said and Jo Rzymowska were among those to receive well-earned recognition in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

It is always gratifying to see people rewarded for their hard work and dedication and this week we reveal the winners of the 2025 Hotlist awards for the cruise and touring and adventure sectors.

You can find out which brands were named the trade’s favourite in our special Hotlist supplement.