Travel Weekly editor-in-chief Lucy Huxley reflects on association’s first overseas conference since 2019
The Travel Convention returned overseas this week for the first time since 2019 and what a pleasure it was to meet up with industry colleagues and friends in Marrakech.
The first day of the convention programme saw a significant focus on sustainability with the official launch of The Climate Action Guidebook produced by Abta and Deloitte, and Intrepid Travel chief executive James Thornton noting “travel is in the front seat of the climate emergency”.
Thornton challenged delegates, telling them: “There is no vaccine for climate change. We need action. The risks are to our entire industry.”
Abta chief Mark Tanzer hailed the sector’s emergence from Covid-19, insisting “we can face the new landscape with renewed ambition” while noting the industry would have to “battle economic headwinds for a year”.
Industry leaders were upbeat despite PwC leisure strategy director Eleanor Scott noting the UK economy faces a downturn. EasyJet holidays chief executive Garry Wilson suggested Covid “reminded people what it’s like when you don’t travel” and Hays Travel owner Dame Irene Hays argued: “Covid taught people to book with a travel agent for trust, security and value for money.”
The recovery has not been without cost. At a Travel Weekly Breakfast ahead of the convention opening, Royal Caribbean vice-president for Europe Ben Bouldin spoke of a high level of fatigue in the sector. And on the convention stage, workplace consultant Christine Armstrong noted many employees feel “burnt out”. Yet the overriding sense was of optimism and good humour – even at the antics of a government whose policies appear to be exacerbating the headwinds.
Comment originally from Travel Weekly October 13 edition