The trade has the experience to navigate tough times

Between us, chief reporter Juliet Dennis and I have more than half a century’s experience of reporting on the travel trade. 

While our careers don’t quite stretch back to the first Gulf war, we have covered a host of major challenges for the industry, from 9/11 and the second Gulf conflict to the financial crash of 2008, the Icelandic ash cloud and, of course, the Covid-19 pandemic.

There have been many times when the outlook has appeared bleak, but time and again we have seen agents and operators alike respond to whatever setbacks come their way.

In this week’s edition, we cover Ashdown Travel’s latest acquisition and Juliet speaks to a range of retailers and consortia about continuing demand for travel agents on the high street, with many businesses expanding even amid the latest test to face the trade. 

And the high street is certainly not the only trade channel seeing growth, as we also report on ambitious plans from start-up agency The Cruise Globe as it looks to evolve from its roots as a specialist app and Jamie Wake Travel as it aims to expand its network of homeworkers.

There is no doubt times are tough, and some plans may be tempered in the months to come, but nevertheless this future planning reflects a calmness and confidence that history suggests is well placed.

The rest of this year will inevitably need prudent business management, but the trade’s long‑standing ability to roll with the punches while still targeting growth reflects the underlying demand for what our industry sells and the people who sell it.

Comment originally from Travel Weekly, May 21 edition