Unpacked, by TTG

With some travel agents reporting fewer fam trip opportunities and operators under increasing pressure to prove return on investment, Editor-in-Chief Sophie Griffiths and TTG Luxury Reporter Emma Dooney ask whether every travel seller should still expect access to educational trips — or whether their eligibility needs a rethink. Joining the discussion are luxury travel advisor Duncan Greenfield-Turk, who recently sparked debate by arguing not all agents should be entitled to fams, and Andy Flynn, who brings a fresh perspective, having only been in the industry a year who argues fams are invaluable for learning.

On this special edition of our News in Brief podcast, managing editor James Chapple quizzes Advantage's commercial director John Sullivan on how they're supporting members in the current climate of uncertainty, his predictions for the rest of the year and why we really need to speaking to – rather than writing to – our AI friends...

What does the fuel crisis really mean for summer holidays abroad this year? Is there even a fuel crisis? And how are agents reassuring customers (and maintaining bookings)? Join us for this special episode as we take a deep dive into the big question dominating both the travel industry – and national press: will summer holidays overseas actually happen this year?

The TTG team debate whether other EU nations will follow Greece’s lead in pausing biometric border checks to avoid summer travel chaos, analyse the fuel surcharge landscape as operators move to protect summer demand amid global economic uncertainty and and discuss why suppliers have been busy defending InteleTravel this week.

On this latest epsiode the TTG news team are joined by Abta's director of public affairs Luke Petherbridge and Suzanne Cumpston, sales and commercial manager, Sam Smith Travel as they explore the impact of the EU’s new biometric border rules and what it means for summer travel. Early signs suggest we may see significant disruption at some airports, but how widespread will this be? Can we expect European airports and ports to offer a smooth process by summer, or is this just one more headache that the travel industry – and holidaymakers – need to be braced for?  

The US-Iran ceasefire has huge repercussions for travel (and the wider world!). So how has the industry reacted to the news? What does it mean for this summer and for the lates market? And where are holidaymakers now likely to be heading – or not heading! – to over the next few months? The TTG news team dissect what the ceasefire means for the UK and Ireland travel industry.

Moving beyond the headlines to understand what the situation in Dubai is like right now, what clients are saying about travelling to the Middle East, how long it will take for travellers to feel comfortable travelling there again, and what it means for the future of the Middle East as a transit hub. Plus where else are travellers heading to this Easter and which other holiday hotspots are being impacted by the Middle East crisis and war on Iran?

The TTG team are joined by an agent and operator who both specialise in selling sustainable holidays for an honest and frank conversation about whether the travel industry is embracing change fast enough, if there is a genuine desire to alter behaviours (or if travel firm are more interested in good PR) and whether customers even care about sustainability anyway...