So 2011 is upon us and carries positive hopes for a good year in our industry. So far it has met our expectations, with various reports of trading being up anything from 10% to 45% year on year for retail agents and online agencies.
Some bed banks are reportedly up nearly 100% and there is strong demand for flights, with companies such as Monarch already increasing their flying programmes to key destinations.
And speaking of key destinations, there seems to have been a bit of a swing toward the Canary Islands, with Tenerife gaining the biggest uplift, closely followed by Lanzarote.
Egypt and Turkey have had a fairly slow start due to higher prices in Turkey and some negative reports on the shark attacks in Egypt. No doubt both destinations will end up as best-selling destinations this year, but a slow start nonetheless.
I have high hopes, along with everyone else, for this year. I hope we can get on with doing what we do best: providing our customers with the best value and quality holidays we can.
No doubt there will be some challenges along the way. We have already seen riots in Tunisia, sharks in Sharm el-Sheikh and British Airways cabin crew once again voting to strike and inconvenience our passengers, but hopefully these are minor blips.
Protection issues
I am also hoping that we can see an end to the protection and Atol debates currently ongoing.
There is a decision due very soon on the long-awaited flight-plus scheme and I hope that the Civil Aviation Authority has decided to keep it fair so it is a level playing field for everybody. Most importantly, all our customers should be protected correctly, once and for all.
I am coming towards the end of an Abta election and by the time this is published I will know if my ideas and views will be good enough to get on to the Abta board.
I face stiff opposition from Mike Greenacre, managing director of The Co-operative Travel Group, who is already on the board having to re-stand, and Vincent Bourke, of Affinion International Travel, a very respected member of the travel industry.
But I am hopeful that retail agents can see there is a need for independent views and representation on the new-look board, and it would be an honour to represent you all.
(The Abta elections have now taken place. Mike Greenacre was re-elected to the board. – Ed)
Glittering Globe Awards
And finally, last week’s Travel Weekly Globe Awards was a spectacular event with amazing acts, a fantastic setting and great award winners.
I would like especially to mention Travel Counsellors’ Saffron Tennant to whom I presented the Penny Akam Award for Unsung Heroes. A worthy winner and an exceptional lady who will go a long way with her positive attitude and customer care. Congratulations.