A new trade resource has been launched this week outlining plans from a range of partner destinations, airlines and tour operators for reopening to tourism.
Travel Weekly has created the Restart & Recovery Hub to offer answers to agents’ and clients’ questions about border reopening dates and entry requirements such as testing and quarantine, and to show videos or photos of hygiene measures that have been put in place in hotels, airports and other tourist attractions.
The hub also includes details from partner airlines and tour operators about their hygiene protocols, booking or cancellation guarantees and amended schedules.
Travel Weekly editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley said: “We are pleased to unveil our Restart & Recovery Hub this week, bringing together must-have information from some of our tourist board, airline and supplier partners to help agents reassure their customers and rebuild their businesses.
“Seeing flights take off and British holidaymakers go abroad again over the past few weeks has been a big turning point, but there will be many challenges ahead as the global travel picture becomes increasingly complex. This offers a unique opportunity for travel agents to stay up to date and be that source of trusted expertise and experience their clients are looking for.
“Travel Weekly’s Roadmap to Recovery series has tackled the most-pressing issues facing our readers through our extensive online coverage, digital magazine, webcasts, podcasts and more, and we hope the Restart & Recovery Hub will be the next step in helping the trade rebuild confidence in the sector.”
Tony Smyth, senior vice-president of iFree Group, headline sponsor of the hub, said: “In a world facing many challenges, shifting sentiment and heightened security, we are proud to sponsor Travel Weekly’s Restart & Recovery Hub.”
The hub includes destinations that have reopened to British tourists as well as updates from countries whose borders are still closed, with details of safety measures being put in place for when travel resumes.
Partners in the hub include: Visit Argentina, Belize Tourism Board, ProColombia, Dominican Republic Tourist Board, Visit Florida, Gibraltar Tourist Board, Guyana Tourism Board, Hungarian Tourism Agency, Loganair, Malaysia Airlines, Visit Maldives, Visit Malta, Visit Panama, Visit Portugal, Travelopia (Citalia and Sovereign Luxury Travel) and Uruguay.
For more information about the Restart & Recovery Hub, and to find out how partners can sign up, please email:
katie.mcgonagle@travelweekly.co.uk
Visit the Restart & Recovery Hub
A word from our partners
Visit Malta
“We are delighted to welcome travel agents and their clients back to the Maltese Islands, and we are so grateful for the support of our airline, tour operator and travel agent partners who help us share Malta with so many people. The Restart & Recovery Hub is useful in supporting the trade and providing them with the information and resources to sell the Maltese Islands again with confidence.”
Natalie Swinburne,
Trade marketing manager
Travelopia
“Sovereign and Citalia are delighted to be part of the Restart & Recovery Hub. As we open up to outbound tourism once more, we want to ensure the travel trade has all the tools and information required to start selling our holidays again. With consumers looking for knowledge and reassurance, our Book with Confidence and Travel with Confidence initiatives will support agents to sell, safe in the knowledge that we have gone the extra mile to ensure their customers’ concerns are met.”
Simon Garrido,
Head of trade partnerships
Dominican Republic Tourist Board
“The Dominican Republic is delighted to be part of the Restart & Recovery Hub. As our destination opens up its airports, ports and infrastructure, we want to ensure the trade has all the information, resources and assets to support them. With consumers looking for expertise and guidance, the role of our travel agent partners is increasingly crucial. We hope that being part of the hub makes the process of selling the Dominican Republic easier for them.”
Sabrina Cambiaso
Director
Malaysia Airlines
“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and employees is of paramount importance. We hope our Fly Confidently campaign will inform our customers and others of the extensive health and safety measures that have been put in place – including complimentary hygiene kits – to guarantee every flight with Malaysia Airlines is safe and comfortable. We have partnered with Travel Weekly on the Restart & Recovery Hub to reassure our travel agent partners and their customers.”
Daniel Bainbridge,
Regional manager for UK & Europe
Gibraltar Tourist Board
“Gibraltar has been working continuously over the past few months preparing to welcome back visitors in as safe a way as is possible in these unprecedented times. For this reason, it’s important that travel agents are briefed with the latest information. This will allow them to help their customers fully understand what measures are in place for visitors to feel safe and relaxed during their stay and so they can focus on the many unique attributes our destination has to offer.”
Tracey Poggio-Magnus,
UK head of media and marketing
Loganair
“Loganair recognises how important the Restart & Recovery Hub is and we are delighted to be involved. Given our role of connecting the key UK and Ireland regions, it’s vital that all our customers are kept up to date with both our route commencement dates and the steps we are taking to provide a safe and healthy flying environment.”
Kay Ryan
Chief commercial officer