Picture: Agents from Hays Travel South Shields
Travel firms are gearing up to mark the coronation of King Charles III, with some of the country’s largest agencies closing for the day to allow staff to watch the event.
Hays Travel, Midcounties Co‑operative Travel and Fred Olsen Travel branches will be among those shut on May 6.
High street agencies have decked out their shops in a royal theme and plan special celebrations, while Hays also used the historic occasion to announce a new branch – on the set of Coronation Street in the fictional town of Weatherfield. It will be seen on the ITV soap opera later this year.
The chain is shutting more than 400 of its branches this Saturday.
Owner and chair Dame Irene Hays said: “We want to encourage our staff to have the chance to enjoy the build-up and watch the historic ceremony on the day.”
Midcounties’ 71 Your Co-op Travel shops and Fred Olsen Travel’s 17 branches will also close. Fred Olsen retail director Paul Hardwick said store windows featured coronation-related offers. He added: “We feel it’s important staff can watch or be involved in such a momentous day and that business would be quiet on Saturday.”
Althams Travel is running a royal holiday promotion until May 13, with all bookings entered into a prize draw, and inviting customers in for tea and cake during the next two weeks. Staff can wear red, white and blue on coronation day.
Pictured: Otley and Ilkley branches
Pictured: Yeadon branch
Sales development manager Marie Leach said: “All shops are decorated and we’ll be having our own royal tea parties in branches. We want all staff to get behind the royal event.”
Tui agents have been invited to dress in red, white and blue and those working on May 6 will receive a ‘coronation buffet’ from the company.
The Advantage Travel Partnership said most members would be open but celebrating in store. The consortium said the extra bank holiday had led to a 21% increase in bookings for travel this weekend over 2019.
The Travel Network Group said some members were choosing to close on Saturday, May 6, or on Monday, May 8, while homeworking group Independent Travel Experts said most of its agents would be taking part in coronation celebrations but would “be available to take calls from customers” while some were organising street parties or sponsoring community events.
Jo Richards, director of Tivoli Travel, will handle enquiries from home so staff do not have to work on Saturday. “This is part of history; we all should be giving staff the opportunity to watch it,” she said.
Pole Travel will also close. Director Jill Waite said: “I don’t think we’ll be busy as people won’t be out and about buying holidays.”
Operators and cruise lines have used the coronation to announce incentives, savings, royal-themed tours and cruises.
EasyJet Holidays has commissioned a sandcastle sculpture replica of the original Buckingham Palace on West Wittering beach in tribute to King Charles III and to mark its ‘Holidays Fit For a King’ summer promotion, available across five-star hotels in 66 beach and city destinations.
Celebrity Cruises, Cunard and P&O Cruises will broadcast the coronation live on board, while P&O Cruises has launched offers to mark the occasion, with discounts on selected sailings if secured by May 9.
Travel firms have been treating employees to coronation parties. Newmarket Holidays’ staff enjoyed a special afternoon tea in their London offices, decorated with Union Jacks and bunting (pictured).
The coronation is also expected to boost UK tourism.
VisitEngland research estimated millions of Brits plan an overnight break in the UK this bank holiday weekend, injecting a predicted £1.2 billion into the economy.
Domestic operator Great Little Breaks is offering a Cadbury hamper in a prize draw for agents who send in photos of their shop windows. Chris Cundall, director of trade relations, said: “This event creates a real focus on the capital and is the perfect time for agents to promote the UK.”
British Airways and VisitBritain have teamed up to welcome visitors to London with a giant mural on the Heathrow flight path, designed by local children.
BA passengers travelling on May 6 will enjoy Eton mess popcorn, coronation-themed deserts and a live streaming of the coronation via onboard Wi-Fi while customers departing Heathrow or Gatwick that day with the surname ‘King’ or ‘Queen’ will also receive access to the airline’s luxury lounges.
The coronation will see 10% more flights landing in the UK this weekend than during the same period last year, with 10,807 scheduled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. UKinbound said the benefit would be “mid to long-term”, particularly with the US market.
Pictured: Spear Travels Northallerton